Coming off their first playoff win since 2019, the Spurs battled the Portland Path Blazers for Recreation 2 of the opening spherical. The Spurs began the primary quarter on a chilly streak, falling behind by as a lot as 13. Regardless, the Spurs managed to take a one-point lead into the second quarter. Victor Wembanyama suffered a concussion and was dominated out for the remainder of the sport. The sport was tied at halftime, and the Spurs managed to take a one-point lead into the fourth quarter. With 8:33 remaining within the sport, the Spurs held a 14-point lead. The Blazers then launched into a 12-0 run. The Spurs had a number of probabilities to place the sport on ice. Portland outplayed them with Wemby out, and the Blazers held a three-point lead with 5 seconds remaining. Devin Vassell missed the game-tying three, and the Spurs misplaced 106-103.
Stephon Citadel dropped 18 factors, seven rebounds, 5 assists, two steals, and a block. Steph led the crew in scoring by draining a pair of threes, slashing his strategy to the basket, and from the free-throw line. He additionally snuck into the passing lanes and offered playmaking. Sadly, Steph’s inexperience within the playoffs confirmed within the fourth quarter. He missed a number of photographs and turned the ball over a number of instances. He might want to step up for Recreation 3, particularly if Wemby is dominated out.
TOUGH BUCKET. Steph drives on Scoot Henderson and will get the robust bucket to go!
ST3PH! Wemby finds an open Steph within the nook for the trey-ball!
CLEAN UP! Steph places again Dev’s missed layup with a slam dunk!
AND-ONE! One other drive, one other robust bucket: Steph drives on Shaedon Sharpe and fights via contact for the and-one!
De’Aaron Fox dropped 17 factors, 4 assists, two rebounds, and two steals. Fox began the sport together with his share of buckets and offered dimes all through. Fox additionally confirmed his swiping talents with two steals. Like Steph, Fox additionally faltered within the fourth. The standard midrange jumpers and floaters weren’t hitting nylon. With the opportunity of Wemby out for Recreation 3, Fox might want to have a giant scoring sport to maintain the Blazers at bay.
Middy! Fox speeds into the paint and drains the robust jumper over Donovan Clingan!
Protection to Offense! Carter Bryant locks up Deni Avdija and will get rewarded with a Fox dime and a wide-open slam!
Clean! Fox pulls up on Henderson and drains the middy off the glass!
Reverse and-one! Fox finds a reducing Luke Kornet who finishes with a reverse slam via contact!
Devin Vassell dropped a double-double: 16 factors and 12 rebounds to associate with three steals, two assists, and a block. Dev cashed in on jumpers and crashed the boards on each ends. He was additionally stable defensively with stable contests alongside his 4 shares. Like Fox, he shot 37% from the sector and missed a number of key photographs down the stretch. Dev will look to proceed to be an x-factor for this crew for Recreation 3.
Dev dime! Dev drops off the go to Kornet within the dunker spot, and he finishes with a poster!
Protection to Offense Half 2! Kornet defends Matisse Thybulle properly, and it leads to a clean Dev jumper on the opposite finish!
All in all, this sport was misplaced resulting from an absence of execution within the fourth quarter. The silver and black stored making each compelled and unforced errors, and have been ice chilly within the final 5 minutes of the sport. Wemby is in concussion protocol and will probably be re-evaluated for a clearer thought of his standing for Video games 3 and 4. Harrison Barnes and Dylan Harper additionally suffered accidents, however they don’t look like severe. Nonetheless, the crew wants to organize to play with out Wemby, and so they all have to step up earlier than the sequence will get out of hand.
Lastly, listed below are the total sport highlights.
Recreation 3 is in Portland this Friday at 9:30 P.M. (CST) on Prime Video.
