Spurs advance with Game 5 win

San Antonio closed out Portland 114-95 in Game 5 on Tuesday night and advanced to the Western Conference semifinals for the first time since 2017. (espn.com) (nba.com) De'Aaron Fox scored 21 points and handed out nine assists, then took over again in the fourth quarter with 13 points after Portland cut a 21-point deficit to nine. (espn.com) (nba.com) Victor Wembanyama finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds, six blocks and three assists, and rookie Dylan Harper also scored 17 as six Spurs reached double figures. (nba.com) San Antonio set the tone early. The Spurs led by 10 in the first quarter, by 20 early in the second, and by as many as 28 before halftime after shooting 66.7% in the first half. (nba.com) (espn.com) Portland still made one push, trimming the margin with an 11-0 run early in the fourth, but Fox re-entered with 6:17 left and scored San Antonio’s next nine points. (espn.com) The result ended San Antonio’s longest stretch without a playoff series victory in nearly a decade. It was also the first series win for Wembanyama, Fox, Stephon Castle, Harper and coach Mitch Johnson. (nba.com) The bracket is still waiting on San Antonio’s next opponent. The Spurs will face the winner of Denver-Minnesota, a series the Timberwolves lead 3-2, according to the NBA playoff bracket on Wednesday, April 29. (nba.com) (espn.com) For now, the Spurs are through in five games, with Fox closing and Wembanyama controlling the paint in the franchise’s first trip past Round 1 since 2017. (espn.com) (nba.com)