Victor Wembanyama scored 29 points in just 24 minutes as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers 125-103 on Saturday night at the Moda Center, stretching their winning run to eight games in a row.
Wembanyama did all of his damage in three quarters. He sat out the whole fourth quarter with the rest of the Spurs starters, because the game was already won. San Antonio led by as many as 35 points and never trailed at any stage. The Spurs moved to 8-2 for the season, while Portland fell to 6-3 with a second straight defeat.
“We’re in a great spot. Ten games in, the season goes by quick, but we’re building, everybody’s figuring out new roles.”
Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama 29 Points in 24 Minutes
Wembanyama needed only 24 minutes to put up 29 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. He made 9 of his 13 shots from the field, including 3 of 6 from three-point range. He had 16 points by half-time, then added 13 more in the third quarter.
His best stretch came in the third quarter, when he scored five points in a row on his own — a tip-in followed by a three-pointer — to push San Antonio 84-59 ahead. It was the kind of burst that took the game away from Portland for good.
Third Quarter Breaks Game Open
The first quarter was close, with San Antonio ahead 22-20. The Spurs then took charge in the second quarter, scoring 42 points. They hit seven three-pointers in the period and made 17 of 18 free throws, going into half-time 64-49 in front. They made 20 of 21 free throws in the first half.
The third quarter was even better. San Antonio scored 45 points on 18-of-27 shooting, and the lead reached 30 points on a Dylan Harper basket with 4:14 left in the quarter. The Spurs went into the final quarter 109-76 ahead, and the fourth quarter was played out 16-27 with the starters resting.
| Quarter | Spurs | Trail Blazers |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 22 | 20 |
| Q2 | 42 | 29 |
| Q3 | 45 | 27 |
| Q4 | 16 | 27 |
| Final | 125 | 103 |
Spurs Depth Carries Blowout Win
The win was not a one-man show. Devin Vassell scored 15 points, Stephon Castle had 14 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, and Julian Champagnie added 14 points with four three-pointers. Dylan Harper scored 13 points with 7 rebounds, and Keldon Johnson came off the bench for 10 points and 7 rebounds.
San Antonio won the rebounding battle 51-38 and made 28 of 30 free throws. The Spurs shot 44.4 percent from the field and 17 of 44 from three-point range (38.6 percent). Portland shot 41.7 percent from the field and only 9 of 35 from three (25.7 percent).
For Portland, Deni Avdija led the way with 15 points, Scoot Henderson scored 13, and Damian Lillard had 12 points and 7 assists. Rookie Yang Hansen came off the bench for 12 points and 10 rebounds, the first double-double of his career. Jrue Holiday added 11 points, as did Chris Youngblood.
| Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama | Spurs | 29 (7 reb, 3 ast) |
| Devin Vassell | Spurs | 15 |
| Stephon Castle | Spurs | 14 |
| Julian Champagnie | Spurs | 14 |
| Dylan Harper | Spurs | 13 |
| Deni Avdija | Trail Blazers | 15 |
| Scoot Henderson | Trail Blazers | 13 |
| Damian Lillard | Trail Blazers | 12 |
| Yang Hansen | Trail Blazers | 12 (10 reb) |
| Jrue Holiday | Trail Blazers | 11 |
Why Spurs Streak Matters
A winning streak means a team keeps winning, game after game, without a loss in between. Eight wins in a row is a strong sign. It shows the team is playing well, and the players trust each other.
The Spurs lost their first two games of the season, to Oklahoma City and Houston. Since then, they have won eight in a row. That is a big change in a short time. The only close game in the run was a 112-111 win over Dallas. The rest were clear wins.
Sitting the starters in the fourth quarter says a lot. When a team is so far ahead that its best players can rest for the whole final quarter, it means the game was one-sided. It also keeps the starters fresh for the next game.
An 8-2 start is a strong start to the season. It puts San Antonio near the top of the early standings and gives the young side belief. The next test comes on Monday, when the Spurs play at Phoenix. Portland will host back-to-back games against Oklahoma City on Tuesday and Wednesday.
29 points in 24 minutes, with 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
Eight straight, after losing their first two games of the season.
At Phoenix on Monday.
