Wembanyama Drops 35 in Historic Playoff Debut as Spurs Defeat Trail Blazers in Game 1

Wemby drops 35 in playoff debut Spurs lead series

Detailed recap of Game 1 in the Spurs-Trail Blazers 2026 playoff series. Victor Wembanyama’s 35-point performance, Deni Avdija’s 30-point effort, and how the second-seeded Spurs pulled away for the win.

Victor Wembanyama scores 35 points and sets franchise records in his playoff debut as the Spurs defeat Portland...

In San Antonio, the second-seeded Spurs built momentum early and led by as many as 16 points during a dominant first half, cruising to a commanding 59-49 halftime advantage over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series on April 19, 2026.

Victor Wembanyama set the tone with aggressive drives and perimeter shooting, while the Spurs' young core locked down Portland's offense and capitalized on transition opportunities at the energetic Frost Bank Center.

WEMBY’S PLAYOFF DEBUT WAS HISTORIC 👽

35 PTS
5 THREES
2 BLK
GAME 1 WIN

He sets the Spurs franchise record for MOST PTS in a playoff debut AND becomes the ONLY player in NBA history with at least 35 PTS & 5 3PM in a playoff debut! pic.twitter.com/uHBFmQyN6k

— NBA (@NBA) April 20, 2026

Portland, led by a strong performance from Deni Avdija who finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds, mounted a spirited comeback and cut the deficit to just two points early in the third quarter. Avdija's scoring bursts and physical rebounding energized the Blazers, forcing the Spurs to regroup as the visitors briefly seized the momentum with timely three-pointers and defensive stops.

But the Spurs pulled away again in the second half behind Wembanyama's relentless play and contributions from teammates like Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox, thrilling the San Antonio fans who have waited since 2019 to see the five-time champion franchise return to the playoffs. San Antonio eventually pulled out a 111-98 victory in a game that showcased their depth and star power, sending waves of excitement through the sold-out crowd waving Fiesta-themed playoff towels.

Game One. Won. @FrostBank | #sponsored pic.twitter.com/tXmUuJ1oxX

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 20, 2026

“We were solid, but job's not done,” said Wembanyama, who earlier in the day joined Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver's Nikola Jokic as a finalist for regular-season MVP honours. The 22-year-old phenom delivered a historic playoff debut with 35 points on efficient shooting, including several highlight-reel dunks and threes, while adding five rebounds and two blocks to lead the Spurs to a 1-0 series lead.