I haven’t taken a breath since 12 minutes into Sport 2 when Victor Wembanyama took a spill and had a concussion. I believe I handed out myself, and I’m not certain what occurred since. However I awakened and noticed the San Antonio Spurs had been up 2 video games to 1, and Sport 4 began with the a lot anticipated return of Wembanyama as a result of he needed to sit out Sport 3. As soon as the spry Portland Path Blazers had been up 19 within the first half in Sport 4, I believe I handed out once more (hey, I’m no the place close to conditioned for Spurs playoff basketball watching just like the heydays of the 2000s and 2010s—you’ll should excuse my being out of armchair level guarding form).
Fortunately, the great guys got here by behind De’Aaron Fox’s game-high 28 factors to go together with his 7 assists. Wembanyama, in his triumphant return, scored 27 factors with 11 rebounds and seven blocks.
You understand all of the speaking heads who say the Spurs are too younger and want “playoff scars” or to attend their flip? They could be proper, however nothing is promised or assured. Some gamers on this present staff won’t be on the roster subsequent 12 months. Sadly, accidents occur: some day-to-day, some seasoning ending, others profession ending. Athletes know this in order that they play to win now.
Deep philosophical diatribes apart, I used to be simply glad to see primary again on the courtroom and doing strikes like this within the (expletive)ing playoffs:
I too haven’t any phrases for this apart from *fox emoji *arrow emoji *alien emoji
A “B+” for Harrison Barnes’s spot-on go to a streaking Wembanyama for the jam. An “A” for Wembanyama’s assertion dunk, and an “A+” for Dylan Harper’s well timed display screen that allowed Wembanyama to get free for the simple slam.
Earlier than I hear it within the feedback, I’m altering Barnes’s arbitrary grade to an A.
Stephon Citadel and Wembanyama performed a bit of position reversal with the massive man discovering his fellow RotY for an open dunk.
Even in observe, this alley-oop couldn’t look any simpler and routine for these two. In a dwell playoff sport, properly, that’s simply poetry in movement.
De’Aaron Fox was on a heater on Sunday afternoon, and the Spurs will certainly want it in the event that they hope to advance deep within the playoffs. On a staff of gamers as distinctive as Wembanyama, uncooked, hungry, and proficient like Citadel and Harper, Fox on this case is what you’d name the Mariano Rivera of basketball video games. Hopefully, the Spurs’ very personal Sandman can proceed to be the nearer they want.
Is it me or had been there loads of Spurs followers in Portland? What do y’all know that I don’t. Have they got good tacos up within the Pacific Northwest? Have they got Whataburger? I’ve by no means been and want to someday. In the event that they don’t have Whataburger that’s OK. I assume. I can at all times ship it to myself. Oh, I’m loopy for saying such a factor? I’m not the one who’s depriving the nice individuals of the Northwest from scrumptious, greasy burgers, pal.
Devin Vassell continues be as fixed because the northern star on this sequence, scoring 11 factors on 5 – 9 taking pictures.
Luke Kornet. Do the pose once more. Trademark it, make extra t-shirts out of it. That is your second, make extra performs like that and fireplace up your followers. I’m able to stan for my man the crocodile from Argyle (Texas).
Harrison Barnes didn’t wish to really feel omitted, so he joined the slamma jamma pajamma social gathering. That sounded higher in my head so I believe I’ll depart it, and let the corniness marinate a bit.
Do y’all get the sense Wembanyama is getting angrier and angrier the extra video games he’s enjoying (and exponentially within the playoffs?). If that’s what it takes, I say we do all of the issues which may make him indignant: bend the backbone of a ebook, carry out an unprovoked Dunst Opening transfer in chess, name a server “garçon,” or placing Nutella on plain white bread.
I solely watched these back-to-back alley oops from Citadel to Wembanyama twice. No extra, no much less. As soon as as a result of all of us deserve a sliver of pure pleasure and happiness in our lives, and a second time as a result of should you watch it greater than two instances, it dilutes the sliver of pure pleasure and happiness that you’d obtain by permitting your self to look at these stunning back-to-back alley oops.
In case you missed the sport since you had been too busy deciding between Whataburger ketchup or Spicy Whataburger ketchup, listed here are the full-game highlights:
Subsequent up, the Spurs will head again to San Antonio for Sport 5 on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
