Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs pulled away late for a 111-98 Game 1 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
The , Wemby, led the way with 35 points, five rebounds and two blocks on 13-of-21 shooting, powering San Antonio to a 1-0 series lead after a dominant 21-point first half.
In his third NBA season, the 7-foot-4 forward put an exclamation point on his playoff debut, drawing praise from fellow stars and fans alike.
In their first playoff appearance in seven years, four of five San Antonio Spurs starters reached double figures.
De’Aaron Fox added 17 points and eight assists, while Devin Vassell chipped in 15. Stephon Castle also finished with 17 in the balanced effort.
At the end of the half, the Portland Trail Blazers trailed by 10 after Robert Williams III tipped in a dunk to close the gap before the break.
Out of halftime, Portland opened on a 10-2 run to cut it to 61-59, but the momentum was short-lived as the San Antonio Spurs responded, outscoring the Blazers 28-23 in the third to take a 15-point lead into the fourth.
A 13-3 run brought Portland back within striking distance, but Fox and the Spurs closed strong to secure the Game 1 win at home.
The winner of the Portland-San Antonio series will face the victor of the No. 3 Denver Nuggets-No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves matchup in the Western Conference semifinals, with Denver holding a 1-0 edge.
Game 2 between the Spurs and Trail Blazers is set for Tuesday in San Antonio.
