The Silver and Black ride high after a gritty Game 3 comeback and look to put the Trail Blazers on the brink heading into a pivotal afternoon tilt.
It felt damn good watching the Spurs seize control late Friday night and pull away for the win, powered by the explosive duo of Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle. Those two young guns combined for 60 points, outshining another stellar effort from Jrue Holiday—who’s been Portland’s standout performer all series long. Scoot Henderson cooled off big time and lost his cool in the second half after picking up a technical, while Deni Avdija struggled with inefficient shots and saw his usual foul-drawing antics get shut down by the refs, who seemed done with the whistles. That wild review on Avdija jamming his face into De’Aaron Fox’s drive—earning a chipped tooth but ultimately a reversed call—added some extra drama.
Highlights: Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper combine for 60 points in Game 3 comeback win | Pounding The Rock
Victor Wembanyama remains questionable coming out of concussion protocol this morning, meaning the Spurs might have to roll without their towering anchor once again. A victory this afternoon would hand San Antonio a commanding 3-1 edge and send the series back home to the Alamo City for Game 5—exactly what the franchise wants. For Rip City, it’s do-or-die time; they can’t afford to let this slip. From the buzz around town, Portland plans to crank up the physicality even more, which could mean plenty of wrestling and grit at center court. The Spurs will need to stay disciplined, avoid getting dragged into the mud, match the intensity without losing their composure, and keep playing their brand of fast, smart basketball. It’s playoff hoops at its finest—LET’S GO SPURS!