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Victor Wembanyama delivered a record-breaking play-off debut as the San Antonio Spurs opened the 2025-26 NBA play-offs with a 111-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, energising Frost Bank Center with what Wembanyama felt was its loudest atmosphere.
The Spurs, who entered the postseason as the Western Conference’s second seed, relied on Wembanyama’s all-round impact at both ends, as the center combined high-volume scoring with rim protection and outside shooting to control long stretches of the series opener.
Wembanyama finished with a game-high 35 points, five rebounds and two blocks in the win. The total set a new franchise mark for a San Antonio play-off debut, overtaking Tim Duncan’s 32 points against the Phoenix Suns in 1998.
The French
center also entered NBA history with his shooting display. Wembanyama became the first player to record at least 35 points and five made 3-pointers in a play-off debut, hitting five of six attempts from beyond the arc.
Wembanyama felt the postseason shift was clear as soon as warmups started, highlighting a different edge in the stands and on the floor as San Antonio’s preparation and the crowd’s energy combined at Frost Bank Center.
"The first time I stepped on the court, even for warmups, I felt the atmosphere was different," Wembanyama said. "Everybody was ready. The fans were ready. It's probably the most excitement I've seen this year in this arena. In terms of tactics, the sport aspect of it, it was different because we had more time to prepare. "
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs support cast shine in NBA play-offs
San Antonio’s backcourt and wings provided strong support around Wembanyama’s headline performance. De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle each scored 17 points, while Devin Vassell added 15, helping the Spurs keep control against Portland’s defensive adjustments across four quarters.
Key scorers for the Spurs in the play-off opener are shown below, underlining how Wembanyama’s output stood alongside balanced support from the perimeter, which helped stretch Portland’s defence and opened space inside for the center.
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Blocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs | 35 | 5 | 2 |
| De'Aaron Fox | San Antonio Spurs | 17 | - | - |
| Stephon Castle | San Antonio Spurs | 17 | - | - |
| Devin Vassell | San Antonio Spurs | 15 | - | - |
The Spurs highlighted Wembanyama’s statistical feat on social media, noting the new franchise benchmark for a play-off debut and listing Duncan’s historic performance as the next best outing for a San Antonio player in that category.
Most points in NBA Playoff debut for the Spurs: 1. Victor Wembanyama - 35 (2026) 2. Tim Duncan - 32 (1998 at PHX) pic.twitter.com/n0inuDcXydSan Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 20, 2026
Victor Wembanyama earns praise from San Antonio Spurs coach in NBA play-offs
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson stressed that Wembanyama’s performance reflected detailed preparation and high internal standards. Johnson underlined how the center met demanding expectations around physical play, concentration and team defence in the first game of the series.
"I thought he [Wembanyama] was ready," Johnson said. "There's an approach that we all have in terms of expectation of a heightened level of preparation, detail, nuance, competitiveness, physicality, everything. There's a real desire for that young man to participate in that. This was his first playoff game, and he has lofty expectations and goals for himself. He probably settled in a little bit later when he made some shots and his talent popped. But he really settled in there at a point when our defense kicked it into another gear. [Portland] did a good job of trying to create multiple actions and some confusion. [Wembanyama] did a good job of quarterbacking from the second line, getting guys organised. "
Johnson’s remarks highlighted Wembanyama’s work as a communicator on the back line, guiding rotations while Portland used complex actions, and suggested San Antonio believe the second seed will continue to lean on that combination of scoring and organisation throughout the 2025-26 NBA play-offs.
