The San Antonio Spurs are within the playoffs for the primary time since 2019 because the 2nd seed within the West, and after final evening’s Play-In Match video games, we all know their first spherical opponent. In a bizarre scheduling concept that had many individuals confused, the East 9 vs. 10 sport was first — with the Hornets eliminating the Warmth in a dramatic sport, full with a controversial missed name that ought to have seen LaMelo Ball ejected early for tripping and injuring Bam Adebayo — adopted by the West 7 vs. 8 sport: the Phoenix Suns vs. the Portland Path Blazers.
In a sport whose win likelihood chart appears like a sinusoidal wave, with the Suns main a lot of the primary and fourth quarter whereas the Blazers owned the second and third, it was trying just like the Suns would pull it out, main by as a lot as 11 with 6:41 left earlier than Portland made the comeback. A 3 from Jerami Grant gave the Blazers their first lead of the fourth quarter with just below two minutes to go earlier than issues went backwards and forwards as Devin Booker tried to information his staff to the end line.
Sadly, a few turnovers value Phoenix the sport, and two Deni Avdija free throws and a Grant dunk off a steal with 4.5 seconds left sealed the 114-110 victory for Portland, securing their spot because the seventh seed within the West and because the Spurs’ first spherical opponent. The Suns will go on to face the winner of the West’s 9 vs. 10 matchup between the Clippers and Warriors in a battle for the eighth seed and the fitting to face the Thunder in spherical 1.
The Spurs went 2-1 towards Portland within the common season, with all three being comparatively shut video games. The Spurs gained the latest sport final week 112-101 with out Victor Wembanyama, who had suffered a bruised rib within the earlier sport. Whereas maybe a much less daunting opponent than the Suns within the sense that they lack explosive offensive gamers like Booker or Jalen Inexperienced, the are nonetheless an enormous, robust, bodily staff with an All-Star ahead in Avdija. Additionally they have many similarities with the Spurs, with their younger core being inexperienced within the playoffs, however they nonetheless have vets with championship expertise, like Jrue Vacation, to information them.
It’ll even be a conflict of two coaches making their playoff debut in Mitch Johnson and former Spurs champion Tiago Splitter, who each ended up entering into the function unexpectedly: Johnson after Gregg Popovich suffered stroke final season, and Splitter after Chauncey Billups was positioned on indefinite go away after being charged as a part of the NBA betting scandal (though he has not been formally fired by the Blazers but, so Splitter remains to be interim head coach). Additionally additionally, the Blazers characteristic a few former Spurs in Blake Wesley and Sidy Cissoko, so there are a number of ties between the 2 groups.
As if anybody wants a reminder, the rounds are seven-game sequence in a 2-2-1-1-1 house/away format, with the primary to 4 wins advancing. The sequence will start on Sunday, April 19 in San Antonio at 8:00 PM CT and will probably be aired on NBC and Peacock (be aware that there are not any native broadcasts within the playoffs this 12 months). Recreation 2 will probably be on Tuesday at 7:00 additionally on NBC and Peacock. They are going to then will journey to Portland for Video games 3 and 4, which will probably be on Friday at 9:30 PM on Prime and subsequent Sunday at 2:30 on ESPN. (Thanks to the scheduling gods for searching for these of us who battle with Pacific coast video games on work nights!) Video games 5-7 are TBD and will probably be scheduled as wanted.
We could have way more about this sequence within the coming days, together with match-ups, x-factors, and many others., however within the meantime, what has you probably the most enthusiastic about this sequence, and is it the one you needed? Be at liberty to debate, and within the meantime, welcome again to the playoffs, Pounders!
