Spurs claim eighth straight win
Victor Wembanyama scored 29 points and the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 125-103 on Saturday night in Portland, Oregon, extending their winning streak to an NBA-best eight games.
The victory brought San Antonio’s record to 8-2 on the young season. This represents the franchise’s longest run since stringing together 11 consecutive victories between March 14 and April 2 of last year.
Wembanyama reached the 29-point threshold for the sixth time in his last seven outings. He shot 9 of 13 from the floor, including 3 of 6 from beyond the arc, and went 8 of 9 from the free-throw line in 24 minutes of action.
Wembanyama matches Shaq’s early-season mark
Following his stellar outing against Portland, the young star matched Shaquille O’Neal from the 1993-94 campaign as the only players in league history to accumulate 291 points paired with 39 blocks across their initial 10 games of a season.
Wembanyama scored seven straight points during a 15-2 run in the third period. That surge featured an alley-oop slam, a tip-in dunk, and a 3-pointer that stretched the Spurs’ lead to 25 points.
“We’ve been tested in a couple of ways, but there’s still many ways that remain for us to be tested in,” Wembanyama said after the game. “We’re in a great spot, ten games in. Season goes by quick. We’re building. We’re trending upwards.”
Spurs coach praises team discipline
San Antonio established control by scoring a season-high 42 points in the second period before besting that total by three in the third. Head coach Mitch Johnson pulled his starters after the third quarter with a 33-point advantage on the second night of a back-to-back set.
“Victor didn’t fight the game,” Johnson said. “He wasn’t a big part of the game for a stretch there, but he did a phenomenal job of just continuing to play and allow the game to unfold organically and influence the game when it was in front of him.”
Devin Vassell added 15 points for San Antonio. Stephon Castle and Julian Champagnie contributed 14 points apiece, while Dylan Harper chipped in 13.
Portland struggles to match pace
Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 15 points as Portland dropped to 6-3 on the season. Scoot Henderson finished with 13 points, and Damon Lillard added 12.
The matchup served as a rematch of last season’s Western Conference first-round playoff series. The teams are scheduled to meet three more times this season, with the next game in Portland set for Nov. 25.
The Spurs continue their four-game road trip on Monday night against Phoenix.
