Grades: San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers – Game #25
Devin Vassell came up big for San Antonio (Photo via X)
In a game full of runs, the San Antonio Spurs got the last laugh and beat the Portland Trail Blazers by a final score of 118-116. The Spurs, who now have a record of 13-12, entered the game without Stephon Castle (shoulder), Tre Jones (shoulder), Keldon Johnson (calf) and Zach Collins (back). In the first quarter, San Antonio got even thinner when Chris Paul got ejected. Despite the obstacles, the Spurs battled throughout and came away with one of their better wins of the season.
In the first half, the Spurs dominated the action. It appeared as if they would be able to cruise to victory. Unfortunately, the third quarter saw San Antonio’s defense fall apart. The Blazers remained on fire into the fourth quarter and led by 17 points with eight and a half minutes remaining in regulation.
Thankfully, the Spurs stiffened on the defensive end, got going on offense and erased that 17-point deficit in about five minutes of action. With Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama supplying the heroics, the Spurs were able to eke out the win.
Stats: Spurs at Blazers
Spurs at Blazers – Final Grades
Victor Wembanyama
In another clutch performance by Wembanyama, the superstar Frenchman got to the line with two seconds left and sank both freebies to give the Spurs the lead. It was a fitting end to a game that saw him go 10-for-10 at the free line. Wembanyama didn’t shoot especially well from the field but his passing was outstanding. He was asked to direct traffic on offense more than usual and did just that with ease. Likely due to a lingering back issue, he wasn’t as mobile defensively but his toughness on both ends was helpful. Wembanyama finds ways to win — and that’s a great attribute from a player so young.
Grade: B+
Chris Paul
Paul got ejected 11 minutes into the game after picking up his second technical foul. Prior to the heave-ho, the point guard was having a fine affair. He was 2-for-2 from the field and his orchestration was top notch. His hustle and ruggedness on defense was very notable. It must be said that Paul getting thrown out wasn’t the smartest move because the Spurs were without their two other main point guards in Castle and Jones.
Grade: C+
Harrison Barnes
Barnes wasn’t too involved in Portland, especially considering the fact that he played 34 minutes. One defensive rebound, one assist, zero free throw attempts, zero steals and zero blocks? But, hey, he took advantage of his shot attempts. His efficient evening ended with ten points and zero turnovers in the scorebook. Still, Barnes needs to be more active to truly help his squad.
Grade: C
Jeremy Sochan
With Castle out, Sochan moved into the starting lineup. His physicality in the lane was a difference-making attribute for the good guys. He defended really well, he helped with playmaking duties and he had big plays during crunch time. Sochan’s lack of shooting makes him an awkward fit at times but when he’s supplying brute strength and aggression, it’s difficult to be upset by the total package of what he brings to the table.
Grade: B
Julian Champagnie
Champagnie had another very impressive outing. He hit three three-pointers in the fourth quarter and his nine points in the period led the Spurs. His teammates have confidence in him and Champagnie clearly has confidence in himself. His ability to stretch the floor while playing at least adequate defense is valuable. He had a few defensive possessions where he struggled against the Blazers but, all in all, this was a step in the right direction for Champagnie.
Grade: A-
Devin Vassell
In a season-high 30 minutes, Vassell had a vital role in San Antonio’s victory. He hit gargantuan shots in the fourth quarter and played solid defense throughout the contest. Vassell is doing a better job of helping the entire team thrive by passing smarter, being more attentive on defense and picking the correct times to call his own number. He’s got to be close to being put back into the starting lineup.
Grade: B+
Blake Wesley
Wesley was quietly the hero of this game for the Spurs. With the Spurs down their top three point guards, Wesley stepped in and filled the role admirably. His playmaking was very good, his passing was wise and he kept the mistakes to a minimum. Moreover, he scored enough to keep the Blazers honest. The coaching staff hasn’t utilized Wesley at point guard much lately but he showed that he still has potential at that position.
Grade: A-
Malaki Branham
Branham got some minutes due to the point guard shortage — and things didn’t go well. His defense left a ton to be desired, his shot-selection was clumsy and his decision-making wasn’t quick enough. Branham hasn’t had a quality outing in more than a month now.
Grade: D
Charles Bassey
Bassey was stout. He was noisy in the paint, protected the rim well, ran the court hard and exhibited touch on offense. He also played a clean brand of basketball, finishing without a turnover or a foul in his 14 minutes. Bassey has a chance to be a regular in the rotation — and this type of outing helps him further that cause.
Grade: B+
Sandro Mamukelashvili
Typically, it doesn’t take Mamukelashvili long to make some sort of impact. But against the Blazers, he never really got it going in either direction. He had five rebounds in 13 minutes but that was about the extent of his production. Other than that, Mamu just played bad defense here and there.
Grade: C
Mitch Johnson
Johnson deserves credit for the Spurs pulling out a short-handed victory. To get the win without any player having to go for more than 34 minutes was truly impressive. I liked his playcalling, his rotation made sense and his strategies in the fourth quarters gave his troops a chance to get the win.
Grade: A-