Spurs eliminate Trail Blazers to advance to Western Conference semifinals
Apr 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) raises his arms and acknowledges the fans before leaving during the second half of game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
The San Antonio Spurs are back in the Western Conference semifinals. Behind a dominant performance from Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs eliminated the Portland Trail Blazers 114-95 in Game 5 on Tuesday night, never trailing in a decisive victory that showcased their championship potential.
Wembanyama, the 2.24m center from France, delivered when it mattered most with 17 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks. The stellar performance capped off an impressive series for the young star, who has quickly transformed the Spurs‘ fortunes since being drafted following years of rebuilding.
Balanced offensive attack fuels dominant win
De’Aaron Fox led the scoring with 21 points, while Julian Champagnie added 19 points and Dylan Harper contributed 17 as San Antonio‘s balanced attack proved too much for Portland. The Spurs led by as many as 28 points, winning their third straight game to close out the series 4-1.
Champagnie was particularly effective from beyond the arc, finishing 5-for-7 from 3-points distance as San Antonio shot 40% from long range. Coach Mitch Johnson emphasized the importance of avoiding another early deficit, and his team responded with a blistering 17-4 start fueled by a pair of 3-pointers and eight points from Champagnie.
Portland made a late push, cutting the deficit to 91-82 with eight minutes remaining following an 11-0 run. However, San Antonio quickly extinguished any hopes of a comeback. Wembanyama provided the exclamation point, sending Deni Avdija‘s floater off the top of the backboard and into the crowd in the final minutes.
The Trail Blazers struggled from long range, shooting just 23% from 3-points distance. Avdija led Portland with 22 points but was limited to 1-for-6 from beyond the arc. Scoot Henderson, who had been a key contributor throughout the series, managed just five points after being held to 10 points following a skirmish with Harper in Game 3.
San Antonio advances to face the winner of the Denver Nuggets–Minnesota Timberwolves series, with Minnesota currently leading 3-2. This marks the Spurs’ first trip to the Western Conference semifinals since 2017, when they beat the Houston Rockets before losing Kawhi Leonard to injury and subsequently getting swept by Golden State in the conference finals.
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