Portland Trail Blazers secure upset win over San Antonio Spurs
The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs, 106-103, in their NBA Western Conference playoff series on Tuesday. The Spurs’ star player, Victor Wembanyama, was injured early in the game and subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the match after hitting his head during a collision with Jrue Holiday.
Despite Wembanyama’s absence, San Antonio took an 14-point lead into the fourth quarter but Portland’s determined play closed the gap. The Blazers won the series-tying game with key performances from Scoot Henderson (31 points) and Holiday (16).
Portland will face the Spurs again on Friday in Game Three.
Meanwhile, LeBron James led a disciplined defensive effort for the Lakers as they defeated the Rockets 101-94, taking a surprising 2-0 lead in their Western Conference first-round series. The Lakers’ success was attributed to strong performances from James (28 points), Marcus Smart (25 points) and Luke Kennard (23).
Philadelphia’s Sixers bounced back with a 111-97 victory over the Celtics on the road, thanks to combined efforts of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe who scored 59 points. The win was particularly significant after an embarrassing 123-91 loss in Game One.
Game Three for all teams will take place on Friday.