San Antonio advances to second pound of NBA Playoffs

French star Victor Wembanyama led his San Antonio Spurs to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs in the NBA for the first time since 2017, after sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 with a 114-95 win.

First time since 2016-17 season

The Spurs hadn't reached the Western Conference semifinals since the 2016-17 season when they reached the conference finals, only to lose to the Golden State Warriors 0-4, ending their quest for their first title since 2014 and their sixth overall.

They then qualified for the playoffs in the following two seasons, but failed to do so from 2019-20 until last season.

However, with Victor Wembanyama perfectly adapted to the league's intensity and competitiveness in his third season, the Spurs finished the regular season as runners-up to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference standings. On Tuesday, they secured their place in the second round after dominating the game from start to finish at home in front of their fans.

Victor Wembanyama scored 17 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and blocked 6 blocks, playing a key role in clinching the series (the first team to win four out of a possible seven games advances).

The Spurs, who had come back from a 19-point deficit to win Game 4, came out strong and built a 28-point lead before halftime, leading 65-45.

Securing the victory

The Blazers went on an 11-0 run, cutting a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter to 9, but the Spurs quickly responded.

De'Aaron Fox scored 13 of his 21 points in the final quarter, while Wembanyama, who missed Game 3 due to concussion protocols, made two crucial blocks to secure the victory and clinch the series.