Deni Avdija's triple-double propelled the Trail Blazers to a 115-110 victory over the Spurs, with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Donovan Clingan contributed a career-high 24 points and 12 rebounds. The Portland Trail Blazers secured their second consecutive win, outperforming the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night.
Toumani Camara's 20 points and eight rebounds were pivotal as Portland maintained its lead for the entire game, except for a brief 18-second period. Luke Kornet and Julian Champagnie each scored 20 points for San Antonio, but the Spurs couldn't prevent their two-game winning streak from ending.
The absence of All-Star center Victor Wembanyama (left knee soreness) and Devin Vassell (strained left adductor) impacted San Antonio's performance. Coach Mitch Johnson reported that Wembanyama's condition remains day-to-day, but he's optimistic about his return for the team's upcoming game in Memphis.
The Trail Blazers dominated the first half, extending their lead to 15 points while San Antonio struggled with 3-pointers, making only 3 out of 12 attempts. The Spurs briefly took the lead in the third quarter, but the Trail Blazers quickly regained control.
A 12-0 run by Portland in the third and fourth quarters solidified their 93-80 lead with 10:36 remaining. San Antonio mounted a comeback, narrowing the gap to 111-110 with 1:36 left, but the Trail Blazers' efficient play secured their victory.
De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle each scored 19 and 16 points, respectively. Portland's 3-point shooting was less impressive, making 19 out of 45 attempts, compared to San Antonio's 10 out of 31.
The Trail Blazers will host Utah on Monday night, while the Spurs will travel to Memphis on Tuesday night. This victory marks a significant step for the Trail Blazers in their pursuit of a higher playoff seed.
