The San Antonio Spurs are back in the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2017 after closing out the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 5 and winning the series 4-1. The Spurs led by as many as 28 points in the clincher and now move on with a chance to keep a surprising run alive.
De'Aaron Fox led San Antonio with 21 points, while Julian Champagnie added 19 and Dylan Harper scored 17 off the bench. Victor Wembanyama finished with 17 points on 5-7 shooting, 14 rebounds, three assists and six blocks in a game that once again showed why he was unanimously named NBA DPOY.
Wembanyama averaged 21.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game in the series, a line that helped power the Spurs to their first series win since 2017. That drought is now over, and the only question left is who do the spurs play next.
San Antonio's next opponent will be the winner of the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves series, which the Timberwolves led 3-2 at the time of the article. The next game in that matchup was set for Denver, and if the series went the distance, Game 7 would be played on May 2. Potential Game 7 matchups in other series would be held on May 3, and the Spurs could play again as early as May 4.
That waiting game is the only catch in a celebratory night for San Antonio. The Spurs have their first playoff series victory in nine years and the league now has to finish sorting out the bracket before their next round begins.
