Dylan Harper rankings a playoff career-high 27 issues, together with 22 in the second one 1/2, of the Spurs Recreation 3 victory.
The Portland Path Blazers don’t have a lot time to mull their Recreation 3 house loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Recreation 4 is an early afternoon get started Sunday in Portland, not up to 48 hours after the Spurs took a 2-1 collection lead with a 120-108 victory Friday evening.
San Antonio received with out center-forward Victor Wembanyama — who won clinical clearance to play for Recreation 4 after maintaining a concussion in Recreation 2 and ignored Recreation 3 — whilst San Antonio burrowed via a 15-point second-half deficit because of spectacular scoring from 20-year-old rookie guard Dylan Harper (27 issues) and 21-year-old second-year guard Stephon Fortress (33 issues).
Will the Spurs take a 3-1 collection lead on Sunday (3:30 ET, ESPN)? Will the Blazers tie the collection?
Listed here are 3 issues to look at in Recreation 4:
1. How a lot will Wembanyama play in Recreation 4?
In a little bit of fine information introduced not up to an hour prior to Recreation 4, Wembanyama was once given the OK to play after lacking Recreation 3. How a lot he’ll play in Recreation 4 — he was once restricted to 11 mins in Recreation 2 — is a little bit of an unknown because the Spurs would possibly not wish to overload his mins in his go back.
Wembanyama, the Kia Defensive Participant of the Yr and one in every of 3 finalists Kia MVP this season, set a franchise report for issues in a playoff debut with 35 in San Antonio’s Recreation 1 victory.
The Spurs wait for his go back with persistence. Spurs trainer Mitch Johnson stated Wembanyama is progressing however would now not speculate on his availability, bringing up the detailed return-to-play procedure.
2. Blazers will have to keep away from a letdown
Portland led 82-67 with 5:09 ultimate within the 3rd quarter. With 5:48 to move within the fourth, San Antonio owned a 108-96 lead. Right through that extend, Portland was once 6-for-23 from the sphere, ignored its six 3-point makes an attempt, Deni Avdija was once 0-for-4, Jrue Vacation — who in a different way had an awesome recreation with 29 issues, six rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals — was once 1-for-4 and Jerami Grant was once 0-for-3.
The Path Blazers couldn’t do a lot to sluggish the Spurs, who shot 13-for-19 from the sphere and 7-for-9 on 3-pointers. Harper scored 20 issues right through that run, and 20-year-old rookie Carter Bryant was once at the court docket for all the stretch, contributing offensively and defensively. He completed with an impactful 3 issues, six rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks.
The second one duo (Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook) in NBA historical past, age 21 or more youthful, to every rating 25+ issues in the similar playoff recreation. %.twitter.com/4xbaEYkQoa
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 25, 2026
Harper additionally had 10 rebounds, turning into the youngest guard to report a double-double in a playoff recreation. In step with the Spurs, Harper was once the primary rookie with a minimum of 25 issues and 10 rebounds off the bench in a playoff recreation since 1987. Harper and Fortress additionally joined Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook as the one duos in NBA historical past, age 21 or more youthful, to attain 25 or extra issues in the similar playoff recreation.
3. Can Avdija produce extra offensively?
After scoring 30 issues in Recreation 1, Path Blazers All-Megastar Deni Avdija had 14 issues in Recreation 2 and 19 issues in Recreation 3. Of the ones 19 issues, 12 got here on loose throws, and he was once 3-for-15 from the sphere and scored 8 issues in the second one 1/2 and 3 within the fourth quarter.
The Spurs have made capturing tricky for him, particularly within the paint, the place Luke Kornet was once ready to change Avdija’s pictures on the rim. Avdija was once 2-for-10 on pictures within the paint as San Antonio performed a bodily recreation and used more than one defenders on him.
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Jeff Zillgitt has lined the NBA since 2008. You’ll be able to e-mail him at jzillgitt@nba.com, to find his archive right here and apply him on X.