The undermanned Spurs came to Portland having won two of their last five games and got back on track with a narrow win over the struggling Trail Blazers. The offense scored 124.2 points per 100 possessions 90.5 percent of the time against a stout defense, according to Cleaning the Glass. And Victor Wembanyama looked human by his standards, but his 28 points and defense were too much for the hosts as the Spurs mounted a great fourth-quarter rally to win 118-116 after trailing by 17 points eight minutes earlier.

The Spurs were missing Tre Jones (sprained left shoulder), Stephon Castle (left shoulder bruise), Keldon Johnson (left calf strain) and Zach Collins (bruised lower back).

Observations

• The Spurs are the second-worst team in the first quarter (29th in net rating) in the NBA. They opened the game poorly defensively, allowing five of seven baskets to the hosts before a disgusted Mitch Johnson called for a stoppage of play as his team trailed 12-5. The team then went on a 28-13 run powered by six Spurs. Chris Paul was also ejected in the frame and received two technical fouls 11 seconds apart.
• The second quarter was a mess on offense. The Spurs had six points on three of 12 shots in seven minutes. Without Paul’s organization, they still struggled to produce for the most part until Devin Vassell made two shots and Wemby Boat raced up court for a layup. Their saving grace was Portland hitting six of 19 field goals.
• Unlike themselves, the Spurs were bombarded by defense after halftime, giving Portland 46 points on 79 percent shooting, including eight points in the final 50 seconds of the third period. But as the quarter progressed, the Spurs’ offense began to falter. Wesley started the quarter making several shots at the rim. Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes were the only other Spurs to make multiple shots in the quarter, but the team trailed by eight early in the fourth quarter.
• The Spurs surpassed Portland’s intensity level late in the basket transition. They scored 38 points on 62 percent shooting. Most of the destruction on the other side came from Anfernee Simons and Deni Avdija. But the Spurs who saved the team were Vassell, Barnes, Champagnie, Wembanyama and Sochan.
• Wembanyama’s defense forced passouts and many missed shots in the lane. On offense, he tore the Blazers inside and out in the first half but slowed in the final two quarters, making just two of seven shots. Still, he made the crucial freebies that gave Spurs the lead late on. Clingan was his toughest opponent as his 7’2 and wide body means he takes up space at the back and is difficult to score.
• Centers Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III were missing, allowing the Spurs to control the rebound. The Spurs won the rebound duel by nine.
• Jeremy Sochan replaced Castle in the starting lineup. He was the most efficient contributor, making four of five shots in the first half. He did a good job of holding on to his man and opening up to him.