The vibes weren’t nice when the Spurs final left San Antonio. With the collection tied 1-1 and Victor Wembanyama in concussion protocol, issues seemed bleak for the Silver and Black. Now, heading again residence, the Spurs discover themselves up 3-1 of their first-round playoff collection towards the Portland Path Blazers, with Wembanyama totally wholesome.
San Antonio is coming off two straight, gutsy comeback victories in Portland. Now they’ll have an opportunity to shut out the collection in entrance of their residence crowd. It could be the Spurs’ first playoff collection win since 2017.
The Spurs might want to shield the paint and deal with the ball towards a determined Path Blazers squad. With their backs towards the wall, anticipate Portland to return out taking part in bodily, going proper on the rim, and trying to drive turnovers defensively. San Antonio has stepped as much as the bodily problem up to now within the playoffs. They’ll must fend off yet another effort from the Blazers to maneuver on to the Western Convention Semifinals.
April twenty eighth, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT
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San Antonio has been at its finest when it performs quick. Each of their large second-half runs in Portland had been outlined by pushing the ball down the ground and attacking the Blazers, who struggled with transition protection. Whether or not it was discovering Wembanyama for lobs, hitting Devin Vassell early for threes, or certainly one of Dylan Harper, Stephon Citadel, or De’Aaron Fox getting downhill, San Antonio’s prettiest offense has include velocity.
With Wembanyama locking down the paint, the Spurs’ guards have been in a position to take extra possibilities on the perimeter. Portland had the worst ball safety within the NBA this season, averaging 17.3 per sport. They turned the ball over 18 instances in Sport 4. San Antonio will look to drive giveaways and rating straightforward buckets on the opposite finish.
Stephon Citadel’s offense
From Sport One, the Blazers have been content material with placing an enormous man on Citadel and letting him shoot. Citadel has responded by hitting 42.9% of his threes within the collection. He’s averaging 21 factors and 6.3 assists within the collection. In Sport 4, the Spurs appeared to determine the defensive scheme by setting extra screens for Citadel decrease on the courtroom, across the free-throw line, liberating him up or forcing a change, resulting in a Wembanyama lob. When he’s off the ball, he’s been hurting the Blazers by hitting open threes.
It’ll be attention-grabbing to see whether or not Portland will proceed to protect him with an enormous man or go away from the technique in Sport 5. Both method, if Citadel is scoring the ball as he has within the final two video games, the Spurs can be robust to beat.
Wembanyama’s shot choice
The distinction between Wembanyama’s offensive influence within the first and second halves of Sport 4 was night time and day. Within the first half, he was settling for jumpers. That basically bailed out Portland for having a smaller defender on him. Within the second half, he began to get to the basket, feasting on lobs and photographs across the basket. The Spurs need to get inventive with how they get Wemby the ball across the basket. Elbow post-ups towards smaller wings are usually not going to get it executed. Search for extra flex screens and pin-downs to get Wembanyama the ball across the basket with house to function. Then as soon as he establishes a rhythm inside, he can increase issues out past the three-point arc.
