Stephon Castle scored 33 and Dylan Harper added 27 as the short-handed Spurs rallied past the Trail Blazers 120-108 to take a 2-1 series lead Friday.
Stephon Castle scored a game-high 33 points, Dylan Harper added 27 off the bench, and the San Antonio Spurs rallied from a 15-point first-half deficit to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 120-108 on Friday night at Moda Center. The victory gives the Spurs a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Playing without Victor Wembanyama for a second straight game as the league's first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year remains in the NBA's concussion protocol, the Spurs outscored the Trail Blazers 61-43 after halftime to swing the series.
San Antonio's young backcourt talent delivered highly efficient performances. Castle ended the night shooting 10-of-18 from the floor and 10-of-11 at the free-throw line, with 14 of his points coming after halftime. Harper shot 9-of-12 from the field, went 4-of-5 from 3-point range, and finished with 10 rebounds, three assists, and a plus-25 net rating in 29 minutes.
De'Aaron Fox added 18 points, four rebounds, and six assists for the Spurs. Luke Kornet, who started in Wembanyama's place, contributed 14 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists. Devin Vassell chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds.
"Victor is not playing tonight," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said before tip-off. "Obviously, there's a lot that goes into that, but he's doing well and progressing."
Jrue Holiday led the Trail Blazers with 29 points, six rebounds, and five assists, shooting 12 of 18 from the field and 5 of 9 from 3-point range. Scoot Henderson added 21 points, two rebounds, and one assist, while Deni Avdija contributed 19 points, six rebounds, and nine assists. Donovan Clingan grabbed 11 rebounds, and Robert Williams III posted 11 points and nine rebounds. Damian Lillard sat out for Portland to manage his left Achilles tendon.
Portland controlled the first half and led by as many as 15 before taking a 65-59 advantage into the locker room. The Spurs flipped the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Trail Blazers 29-22 behind 12 points from Harper, including a step-back 3-pointer with 4:48 left in the period that ignited a 17-3 run. Fox's turnaround fadeaway with 12.9 seconds remaining in the third gave San Antonio its first lead of the second half at 88-87.
The Spurs put the game away in the fourth, outscoring Portland 32-21 while shooting 68.8% from the field. Castle scored 11 of his points in the period, and Harper added 10. A Castle 3-pointer pushed the lead to six with 7:49 to play, and his pull-up jumper with 6:48 left stretched the margin to eight. The lead grew to as many as 15 down the stretch.
San Antonio shot 47.1% from the floor, 16-of-33 on 3-pointers, and scored 22 second-chance points off 14 offensive rebounds. The Spurs ended the game with a 50-45 rebounding advantage and scored 17 points off 11 Portland turnovers.
Spurs reserve Carter Bryant finished plus-17 in 22 minutes with three points, six rebounds, and three blocks. Sixth Man of the Year Keldon Johnson added five points and five rebounds.
The series returns to Moda Center for Game 4, with the Trail Blazers facing a 3-1 series hold if they cannot even the series at home.