Spurs surge after halftime to take 3-1 series lead as Wembanyama returns from concussion protocol

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs seized control of their Western Conference first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers with a dominant second-half performance, overcoming a 19-point halftime deficit to win 114-93 in Game 4 on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

The victory gave San Antonio a 3-1 series lead, putting them one win away from advancing to the conference semifinals. Victor Wembanyama, returning after missing Game 3 due to concussion protocol, led the Spurs with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and seven blocks in 34 minutes of action.

After trailing by as many as 17 points in the first half, the Spurs outscored the Trail Blazers 68-41 after the intermission. San Antonio began the third quarter with an 11-0 run that cut Portland’s lead to six points, and they never trailed by more than three points for the remainder of the game.

“We executed the things we wanted to start the game on better,” Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said. “There wasn’t a ton of new(ness).” Johnson, in his first playoff season as head coach following the departure of Gregg Popovich, praised his team’s resilience after a slow start.

Wembanyama, who had been cleared to play earlier in the day after completing the NBA’s concussion protocol, acknowledged the challenge of re-entering the flow of the game. “We had to figure out a way to play the right way,” he said. “That too shows the strength of our team. In adversity, we stick together … we feed off each other’s energy.”

The French center also addressed his recent absence, saying he would not detail his frustrations with the process but affirmed the care he received. “I won’t get into the details. I don’t aim for it to develop into a distraction. Ask me again at the conclude of the season,” Wembanyama said. “The doctors were great; they took great care of me. But the way the situation was handled was very disappointing.”

De’Aaron Fox contributed significantly to the Spurs’ second-half surge, scoring key baskets during the decisive run. Fox, alongside Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, provided the perimeter support that allowed Wembanyama to operate effectively in the paint.

Portland, which had led by as many as 17 points in the first half, struggled with turnovers and shot selection after the break. The Trail Blazers committed 18 turnovers in the game, many coming in the third and fourth quarters as San Antonio intensified its defensive pressure.

The Spurs shot 52 percent from the field as a team, compared to Portland’s 41 percent. San Antonio also out-rebounded the Trail Blazers 48-36 and held a 12-2 advantage in points off turnovers.

With the win, the Spurs improved to 3-1 in the best-of-seven series. Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, where San Antonio will look to close out the series and advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

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