The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, one of the NBA’s basement teams, in their third match-up of the season, finishing 2-1 in the short homestand. The Spurs were the nastier team, and Victor Wembanyama led the way with a double-double of points (30) and blocks (10). This was the squad’s last outing before its four-game road trip.

Shaedon Sharpe carved up the Spurs with jumpers and layups, but the hosts limited Anfernee Simons, who just hit a game-winning shot over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, to two of 10 shots in the first half and five of 12 in the second. Portland’s limited offense allowed the Spurs to play help defense aggressively. To boot, San Antonio held the Blazers to 40 percent shooting for the night.

Observations

• Victor Wembanyama followed up his dominating Thursday performance with all-around work. He was like a roaming stick of dynamite, destroying Portland’s offensive actions by the rim. He had six blocks by halftime and took the record for most straight games with a denial in team history (62). But the visitors were more successful going at him on screen rolls. His offense didn’t start percolating until the second quarter when he made two triples and a dunk off a cut. Next, he made all four shots in the third quarter.
• San Antonio had its second consecutive game leading after one quarter while shooting 42 percent from the field. Harrison Barnes was the high Spur, pouring in eight points from long and close range. The team also shut off the paint with help defense and guarded well without fouling, permitting one trip to the line. For the season, the group is 28th in net eating for the frame. The period ended with San Antonio up 25-20.
• Despite Portland raising its level of physicality, deploying full-court press and flashing a zone into the defense in the second quarter, the Spurs scored more efficiently than in the first by 17 percentage points. Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Julian Champagnie were the only Spurs with multiple field goals in the quarter.
• Then the Spurs started the third quarter struggling to make 3-point shots. Wembanyama made the only one of the period and was fouled by Deandre Ayton plus Donovan Clingan on two other attempts. Comically, after Clingan fouled him, Sean Elliot said, “The art of the closeout is dead,” on the Spurs TV broadcast. The team also struggled to score without Wembanyama during the three minute rest he got in the frame. As soon as he checked back in, the team went on a 12-8 run to close the quarter.
• The Spurs began the fourth period ahead by 18 points. The lead had diminished Portland’s ferocity, which helped the Spurs hold them to 38 percent shooting. And Tre Jones put the finishing touches on the offense with multiple baskets and set-ups to teammates to close.
• It was the second-straight night Mitch Johnson used Chris Paul, Devin Vassell, Barnes, Jeremy Sochan and Wembanyama as the starting lineup. Yet, they didn’t have to close because of the fourth-quarter lead, giving an opportunity for the reserves to enjoy some minutes.
• The Spurs attacked a set defense 75.2 percent of the time, per Cleaning the Glass. The offense also had opportunities it took advantage of in the open court, scoring 26 points on the break.