De'Aaron Fox Leads Spurs Past Trail Blazers 114-95 in Game 5 — Spurs Schedule

The Spurs schedule turned Tuesday night into a series clincher, and San Antonio answered with a 114-95 win over Portland in Game 5. The victory closed the playoff series 4-1 and sent the Spurs into the next round for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign.

Fox Seizes the Fourth Quarter

De'Aaron Fox set the tone when the game tightened again, scoring 11 of San Antonio’s first 18 points in the fourth quarter. He finished with 21 points and nine assists, giving the Spurs the late push they needed after building a 20-point halftime lead.

Fox was not working alone. Julian Champagnie scored 14 of his 19 points in the opening half, and Stephon Castle added 15 as San Antonio kept the pressure on Portland from the opening run. The Spurs started with a 15-4 burst and led by 12 after the first quarter before stretching that margin at the break.

Wembanyama Returns Strong

Victor Wembanyama finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks, a line that helped close the series after a brief setback in Game 2. He missed only one game after that concussion, then returned for Sunday’s 21-point win in Portland, when he posted 27 points and seven blocks.

That return carried extra weight because it was the first playoff series victory of his career. San Antonio also ended a six-season run without making the playoffs, and this spring became the first time the franchise had advanced out of the opening round since the 2016-17 campaign.

Portland Falls Short

Portland never matched the Spurs’ opening pace. Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 21 points, while Jerami Grant scored 12 off the bench, but the visitors could not recover after the first-half gap grew to 20 points.

The Spurs now wait on the winner of Denver or Minnesota. The Timberwolves led that series 3-2 entering Game 6 on Thursday night, leaving San Antonio with a clear bracket path but one opponent still to be decided.