Coming off their first playoff win since 2019, the Spurs battled the Portland Trail Blazers for Game 2 of the opening round. The Spurs started the first quarter on a cold streak, falling behind by as much as 13. Regardless, the Spurs managed to take a one-point lead into the second quarter. Victor Wembanyama suffered a concussion and was ruled out for the rest of the game. The game was tied at halftime, and the Spurs managed to take a one-point lead into the fourth quarter. With 8:33 remaining in the game,
the Spurs held a 14-point lead. The Blazers then embarked on a 12-0 run. The Spurs had multiple chances to put the game on ice. Portland outplayed them with Wemby out, and the Blazers held a three-point lead with five seconds remaining. Devin Vassell missed the game-tying three, and the Spurs lost 106-103.
Stephon Castle dropped 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block. Steph led the team in scoring by draining a pair of threes, slashing his way to the basket, and from the free-throw line. He also snuck into the passing lanes and provided playmaking. Unfortunately, Steph’s inexperience in the playoffs showed in the fourth quarter. He missed several shots and turned the ball over multiple times. He will need to step up for Game 3, especially if Wemby is ruled out.
TOUGH BUCKET. Steph drives on Scoot Henderson and gets the tough bucket to go!
ST3PH! Wemby finds an open Steph in the corner for the trey-ball!
CLEAN UP! Steph puts back Dev’s missed layup with a slam dunk!
AND-ONE! Another drive, another tough bucket: Steph drives on Shaedon Sharpe and fights through contact for the and-one!
De’Aaron Fox dropped 17 points, four assists, two rebounds, and two steals. Fox started the game with his share of buckets and provided dimes throughout. Fox also showed his swiping abilities with two steals. Like Steph, Fox also faltered in the fourth. The usual midrange jumpers and floaters were not hitting nylon. With the possibility of Wemby out for Game 3, Fox will need to have a big scoring game to keep the Blazers at bay.
Middy! Fox speeds into the paint and drains the tough jumper over Donovan Clingan!
Defense to Offense! Carter Bryant locks up Deni Avdija and gets rewarded with a Fox dime and a wide-open slam!
Smooth! Fox pulls up on Henderson and drains the middy off the glass!
Reverse and-one! Fox finds a cutting Luke Kornet who finishes with a reverse slam through contact!
Devin Vassell dropped a double-double: 16 points and 12 rebounds to go along with three steals, two assists, and a block. Dev cashed in on jumpers and crashed the boards on both ends. He was also solid defensively with solid contests alongside his four stocks. Like Fox, he shot 37% from the field and missed several key shots down the stretch. Dev will look to continue to be an x-factor for this team for Game 3.
Dev dime! Dev drops off the pass to Kornet in the dunker spot, and he finishes with a poster!
Here’s another angle!
Defense to Offense Part 2! Kornet defends Matisse Thybulle well, and it results in a smooth Dev jumper on the other end!
All in all, this game was lost due to a lack of execution in the fourth quarter. The silver and black kept making both forced and unforced errors, and were ice cold in the last five minutes of the game. Wemby is in concussion protocol and will be re-evaluated for a clearer idea of his status for Games 3 and 4. Harrison Barnes and Dylan Harper also suffered injuries, but they do not appear to be serious. Nonetheless, the team needs to prepare to play without Wemby, and they all need to step up before the series gets out of hand.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
Game 3 is in Portland this Friday at 9:30 P.M. (CST) on Prime Video.
