Two short-handed groups on the second night time of a back-to-back collided within the Spurs’ house opener of 2026, however sadly, the extra shorthanded Portland Path Blazers prevailed. After a sluggish first quarter, the Spurs discovered themselves down by 15 factors a few instances within the second earlier than lastly combating again and even taking the lead just a few instances in a back-and-forth third quarter. Sadly, they took their foot off the gasoline to start out the fourth, giving Portland room to construct some cushion, and that may find yourself being simply sufficient to stave off one final Spurs comeback try within the last minutes.
Donovan Clingan was sizzling to start out the sport, scoring the Blazers’ first 11 factors, together with hitting 3-3 threes, and one other three from former Spur Sidy Cissoko compelled a Spurs timeout after 5 minutes with them down 10-17. The lead was stretched as excessive as 12 with Portland hitting 5 of their first 8 threes whereas the Spurs missed their first 5, a number of of which have been open, earlier than Julian Champagnie lastly received one to fall. The Spurs bench fought again a bit, getting as shut six at 27-21, however Portland recovered and led 35-24 after the primary quarter.
The Spurs continued to battle to attain or cease Portland in transition to open the second quarter and rapidly discovered themselves down 15 just a few instances. The Blazers’ sizzling capturing lastly began cooling off because the Spurs upped their protection, nevertheless it took some time earlier than they lastly began chopping away on the lead as photographs continued to roll off the rim on the opposite finish. A number of transition buckets off rebounds lastly received them going offensively, and a 15-1 run received them inside a degree at 45-46, however the Blazers refused to cede the lead with a few threes, and the Spurs have been nonetheless down 51-55 on the half.
The Spurs lastly took their first lead of the sport to open the third with Stephon Citadel discovering Luke Kornet down low for 5 fast factors, and the groups traded buckets and the lead 10 instances all through the quarter. The Spurs led by as a lot as three a few instances, however after 11 minutes of what felt like a recreation of H-O-R-S-E that may by no means finish, the Blazers used what felt like a “large” 6-0 burst up the result in 87-80 on the finish of the third.
Portland hit two threes to open the fourth quarter, and identical to that a lot of the work the Spurs had accomplished to get again within the recreation was undone with the lead again as much as 13. A Harrison Barnes three helped cease the bleeding, and a few free throws and floater from him received them again inside six, 91-97. The Blazers continued to maintain them at arm’s size for some time, however fourth quarter De’Aaron Fox got here again in and made back-to-back threes as a part of a 8-1 run to them again inside two with simply over 3 minutes left. Portland responded with back-to-back threes earlier than 5 straight factors from Citadel received the Spurs again inside one, however after that they had an opportunity however did not take the lead, Deni Avdija, who had a 29-11-10 triple-double on the night time, hit the back-breaking three to get them up 4 with 50 sec left, and the Spurs couldn’t discover one other bucket, resulting in a 110-115 loss, their second towards a sub-.500 group this season.
Up subsequent: Tuesday at Memphis Grizzlies
The Spurs gained their two house video games towards the Grizzlies this season, ending an embarrassing streak of getting not overwhelmed them in SA since 2019. They didn’t have Ja Morant in these two video games, however they need to this time. On the identical time, with out confirming he’d play, Wemby will journey with the group to Memphis, in order that’s one thing to keep watch over.
