I haven’t taken a breath since 12 minutes into Game 2 when Victor Wembanyama took a spill and had a concussion. I think I passed out myself, and I am not sure what happened since. But I woke up and saw the San Antonio Spurs were up 2 games to 1, and Game 4 started with the much anticipated return of Wembanyama because he had to sit out Game 3. Once the spry Portland Trail Blazers were up 19 in the first half in Game 4, I think I passed out again (hey, I am no where near conditioned for Spurs playoff
basketball watching like the heydays of the 2000s and 2010s—you’ll have to excuse my being out of armchair point guarding shape).
Thankfully, the good guys came through behind De’Aaron Fox’s game-high 28 points to go with his 7 assists. Wembanyama, in his triumphant return, scored 27 points with 11 rebounds and 7 blocks.
You know all the talking heads who say the Spurs are too young and need “playoff scars” or to wait their turn? They might be right, but nothing is promised or guaranteed. Some players on this current team might not be on the roster next year. Unfortunately, injuries happen: some day-to-day, some seasoning ending, others career ending. Athletes know this so they play to win now.
Deep philosophical diatribes aside, I was just glad to see number one back on the court and doing moves like this in the (expletive)ing playoffs:
I too have no words for this other than *fox emoji *arrow emoji *alien emoji
*thumbs up emoji
A “B+” for Harrison Barnes’s spot-on pass to a streaking Wembanyama for the jam. An “A” for Wembanyama’s statement dunk, and an “A+” for Dylan Harper’s timely screen that allowed Wembanyama to get free for the easy slam.
Before I hear it in the comments, I’m changing Barnes’s arbitrary grade to an A.
Stephon Castle and Wembanyama played a little role reversal with the big man finding his fellow RotY for an open dunk.
Even in practice, this alley-oop could not look any easier and routine for these two. In a live playoff game, well, that’s just poetry in motion.
De’Aaron Fox was on a heater on Sunday afternoon, and the Spurs will definitely need it if they hope to advance deep in the playoffs. On a team of players as unique as Wembanyama, raw, hungry, and talented like Castle and Harper, Fox in this case is what you would call the Mariano Rivera of basketball games. Hopefully, the Spurs’ very own Sandman can continue to be the closer they need.
Is it me or were there a lot of Spurs fans in Portland? What do y’all know that I don’t. Do they have good tacos up in the Pacific Northwest? Do they have Whataburger? I have never been and would like to one day. If they don’t have Whataburger that’s OK. I guess. I can always ship it to myself. Oh, I’m crazy for saying such a thing? I’m not the one who’s depriving the great people of the Northwest from delicious, greasy burgers, pal.
Devin Vassell continues be as constant as the northern star in this series, scoring 11 points on 5 – 9 shooting.
Luke Kornet. Do the pose again. Trademark it, make more t-shirts out of it. This is your moment, make more plays like that and fire up your fans. I’m ready to stan for my man the crocodile from Argyle (Texas).
Harrison Barnes didn’t want to feel left out, so he joined the slamma jamma pajamma party. That sounded better in my head so I think I’ll leave it, and let the corniness marinate a bit.
Do y’all get the sense Wembanyama is getting angrier and angrier the more games he’s playing (and exponentially in the playoffs?). If that’s what it takes, I say we do all the things that might make him angry: bend the spine of a book, perform an unprovoked Dunst Opening move in chess, call a server “garçon,” or putting Nutella on plain white bread.
I only watched these back-to-back alley oops from Castle to Wembanyama twice. No more, no less. Once because we all deserve a sliver of pure joy and happiness in our lives, and a second time because if you watch it more than two times, it dilutes the sliver of pure joy and happiness that you would receive by allowing yourself to watch these beautiful back-to-back alley oops.
If you missed the game because you were too busy deciding between Whataburger ketchup or Spicy Whataburger ketchup, here are the full-game highlights:
Next up, the Spurs will head back to San Antonio for Game 5 on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
