The Moda Center was primed for a celebration. Playing their first home playoff game since 2019, the Portland Trail Blazers held a 15-point lead and appeared ready to seize control of their first-round series against a shorthanded San Antonio Spurs squad. Instead, a catastrophic second-half collapse saw the Spurs storm back for a 120-108 victory, silencing a capacity crowd and taking a 2-1 series lead.
Entering the night, all eyes were on the San Antonio injury report. Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs’ MVP finalist and defensive anchor, was officially ruled out due to the concussion protocol following his hard fall in Game 2. With the “Alien” on the shelf, the Blazers had a golden opportunity to capitalize on their home-court advantage. For 30 minutes, it looked like they would do exactly that.
The Collapse in the Third
Portland looked dominant early, riding the energy of the Rose City faithful. Behind Jrue Holiday’s 29 points and a breakout performance from Scoot Henderson (21 points), the Blazers built an 82-67 lead with five minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Then, the wheels came off. San Antonio closed the period on a blistering 21-5 run, capped by a flurry of transition buckets and high-pressure defense. By the time the buzzer sounded for the fourth quarter, a 15-point Portland lead had evaporated into a one-point Spurs advantage.
The Rookie Takeover
In Wembanyama’s absence, the Spurs’ future stars took center stage. Reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle was sensational, finishing with a game-high 33 points. However, it was fellow rookie Dylan Harper who provided the knockout blow.
Harper ignited for 27 points and 10 rebounds, scoring the Spurs’ first 10 points of the fourth quarter. His personal 10-0 run turned a tight contest into a double-digit lead that Portland simply could not recover from.
Spurs vs. Blazers: The Scoring Gap
- Spurs Second Half Points: 61
- Blazers Second Half Points: 43
- Spurs Points from Rookies: 60 (Castle & Harper combined)
Stars Struggle in the Spotlight
While the Spurs’ youngsters thrived, Portland’s offensive leaders went cold at the worst possible moment. Deni Avdija, who has been the Blazers’ primary offensive engine, suffered a nightmare shooting night, going just 3-of-15 from the floor. Starting forward Toumani Camara was equally quiet, finishing with just a single made basket.
Even with Robert Williams III providing a massive spark off the bench—finishing just one rebound shy of a double-double (11 points, 9 rebounds)—the Blazers’ lack of consistency in the starting lineup proved fatal. Big man Donovan Clingan was never able to get into a rhythm, spending most of the evening hampered by foul trouble.
Looking Toward Game 4
The Blazers now face a must-win scenario on Sunday. While the momentum has shifted heavily back to San Antonio, the status of Wembanyama remains the series’ biggest “X-factor.”
If Portland is to even the series at 2-2, they must find a way to sustain their energy for all 48 minutes and rediscover the offensive efficiency that saw them win Game 2. One thing is certain: the Rose City fans will be back, but they’ll be hoping for a much different ending.
