Trail Blazers Rally Past Spurs After Wembanyama Concussion, Even Series 1-1
The Portland Trail Blazers completed a dramatic comeback Tuesday night, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 106-103 to knot their Western Conference first-round playoff series at one game apiece. The victory was overshadowed by a frightening injury to Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama, who suffered a concussion in the second quarter and did not return, leaving his status for upcoming games in serious doubt.
Wembanyama’s injury occurred when he was fouled by Jrue Holiday and tumbled face-first, his jaw slamming into the court. The 7-foot-4 generational talent was diagnosed with a concussion and entered the NBA’s mandatory concussion protocol, which requires at least 48 hours of inactivity and recovery followed by neurological testing and final clearance from team doctors in consultation with the league’s protocol director. Given the stringent guidelines, Wembanyama could miss multiple games. He had managed five points, four rebounds, one block, and one assist in 12 minutes before exiting— a stark contrast to the 35 points he poured in during San Antonio’s Game 1 victory.
Despite losing their anchor, the second-seeded Spurs appeared poised to steal Game 2. They built a 14-point lead early in the fourth quarter, fueled by a 13-0 run to open the final period that included a reverse slam and three-point play from backup center Luke Kornet, who finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. San Antonio had historically been automatic in such situations, having won 76 consecutive playoff games when leading by 14 or more in the fourth quarter, with their last loss under those circumstances dating back to May 19, 2003 against Dallas.
But Portland refused to fold. The Trail Blazers held the Spurs without a field goal for the final 3:37, closing the game on an 11-2 run. The decisive moment came with 12 seconds remaining when Deni Avdija muscled through the paint and delivered a perfect pass to Robert Williams III for a thunderous alley-oop dunk, giving Portland a 104-101 lead. Devin Vassell, who finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds for San Antonio, missed a potential game-tying three-pointer with two seconds left.
Scoot Henderson spearheaded Portland’s attack with a brilliant 31-point performance, shooting 11-of-17 from the field and 5-of-9 from three-point range. “As a team, as a unit, I think that was our goal—to be aggressive,” Henderson said afterward. “Hit everybody that comes through the paint, box out and play fast.” Jrue Holiday added 16 points and nine assists, Avdija contributed 14 points, and Williams finished with 11. For the Spurs, Stephon Castle led the way with 18 points, while De’Aaron Fox added 17.
Vassell acknowledged that Henderson’s comfort level must be disrupted going forward. “Got to be more physical with him. No catch-and-shoots, no easy off-the-dribble pullups,” Vassell said. “We’re going to make it a lot harder for him because he’s feeling way too comfortable.”
The series now shifts to Portland for Game 3 on Friday, with the Trail Blazers having seized momentum and home-court advantage. The Spurs, meanwhile, face an uncertain future not only because the series is tied but because their franchise cornerstone’s health hangs in the balance. Without Wembanyama, the margins become razor-thin, and San Antonio’s 22-year playoff streak of fourth-quarter dominance has already been shattered.
