The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, one of the NBA’s basement teams, in their third game of the season, ending the brief home game 2-1. The Spurs were the worse team, and Victor Wembanyama led the way with a double-double of points (30) and blocks (10). This was the team’s final appearance before their four-game road trip.

Shaedon Sharpe peppered the Spurs with jumpers and layups, but the hosts limited Anfernee Simons, who had just hit a game-winning shot over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, to two of 10 shots in the first half and five of 12 in the second. Portland’s limited offense allowed the Spurs to aggressively support the defense. Additionally, San Antonio held the Blazers to 40 percent shooting on the night.

Observations

• Victor Wembanyama followed up his dominant performance with all-around work on Thursday. He was like a roving stick of dynamite, nullifying Portland’s offensive moves to the rim. By halftime, he had six blocks and set the record for most consecutive games with a goal conceded in team history (62). But the visitors were more successful when attacking him on canvas. His offense didn’t start to take off until the second quarter, when he made two triples and a dunk off a cut. Next, he made all four shots in the third quarter.
• San Antonio led after one quarter for the second straight time and shot 42 percent from the field. Harrison Barnes led the way, scoring eight points from long range and close range. The team also closed the passage with the help of defense and defended well without fouling, allowing an attack on the line. This season the group is ranked 28th overall. The period ended with San Antonio ahead 25-20.
• Although Portland increased its physical level in the second quarter, using full court press and blitzing a zone on defense, the Spurs scored 17 percentage points more efficiently than they did in the first quarter. Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Julian Champagnie were the only Spurs with multiple field goals in the quarter.
• Then the Spurs struggled to make 3-point shots early in the third quarter. Wembanyama managed the only goal of the period and was fouled on two more attempts by Deandre Ayton and Donovan Clingan. Funnily enough, after Clingan fouled him, Sean Elliot said on the Spurs TV broadcast: “The art of the closeout is dead.” Even without Wembanyama, the team struggled to score during the three-minute break he had in the frame achieve. Once he checked back in, the team went on a 12-8 run to end the quarter.
• The Spurs began the fourth period with an 18-point lead. The lead had tempered Portland’s ferocity, helping the Spurs keep their shooting percentage at 38 percent. And Tre Jones put the finishing touches on the offense with several baskets and setups for his teammates to finish.
• It was the second night in a row that Mitch Johnson used Chris Paul, Devin Vassell, Barnes, Jeremy Sochan and Wembanyama in the starting lineup. Nevertheless, they didn’t have to give up because of the lead in the fourth quarter, which gave the reserve players the opportunity to enjoy a few minutes.
• According to Cleaning the Glass, the Spurs attacked a set defense 75.2 percent of the time. The offense also had opportunities in the open field, which they took advantage of, scoring 26 counterattack points.