The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the San Antonio Spurs 106-103 on Tuesday in game two of the Western Conference quarterfinals. The victory was notable because the Trail Blazers came through as a three point winner even though they were a 10.5 point underdog heading into the contest. With the win, the Trail Blazers and Spurs are now tied at one game apiece in their best out of seven series.
Portland was one of two seventh seeds who won on Tuesday as a double digit underdog. The other team was the Philadelphia 76ers who shocked the Boston Celtics 111-97 as a 13.5 point underdog. The fact that we saw two double digit underdogs win on the same night in the NBA Playoffs is unprecedented.
One major turning point in the game came in the second quarter when Spurs star center and Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama left the game with a concussion. He only played 12 minutes as a result.
Five Trail Blazers reached double digits in scoring. Point guard Scoot Henderson of Marietta, Georgia had 31 points, shooting guard Jrue Holliday of Chatsworth, California had 16 points, power forward Deni Avdija of Belt Zera, Israel had 14 points, center Robert Williams III of Shreveport, Louisiana had 11 points off the bench, and small forward Toumani Camara of Brussels, Belgium had 10 points. Meanwhile, center Donovan Clingan of Bristol, Connecticut led the Trail Blazers with 10 rebounds even though he was a -14.
For the Trail Blazers to progress in the series, they will need better production from Matisse Thybulle. He was a -22. The series now shifts to Portland on Friday.
