Victor Wembanyama, Spurs hold on after dominant start to top Trail Blazers in Game 5 and close out series

The Spurs cruised to a dominant win over the Trail Blazers in Game 5 on Tuesday night to grab a 4-1 series win (AP/Eric Gay) ASSOCIATED PRESS The San Antonio Spurs nearly let a 28-point lead slip away, but they got it done. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, after a very dominant start, held on late to grab a convincing 114-95 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. That gave San Antonio the 4-1 win in the playoff series, the first of Wembanyama’s career, and sent them into the next round.

This is now the first time since the 2016-17 campaign that the Spurs have made it out of the opening round of the playoffs. They had gone six straight seasons without even making the playoffs before ending that drought this spring. The Spurs will now take on either the Denver Nuggets or Minnesota Timberwolves in the next round.

The Timberwolves hold a 3-2 lead in that series entering Game 6 on Thursday night. Spurs jump out in front immediately The Spurs wasted no time on Tuesday night. They opened the game on a 15-4 tear, and took a 12-point lead into the second quarter after shooting 60% from the field over the first 12 minutes.

Wembanyama was limited to just two points and a single shot attempt — an easy dunk he threw down — and the Spurs still cruised. The second quarter was more of the same. San Antonio started the period outscoring Portland 18-4 to help build up a 20-point advantage by the time the two teams entered the locker room.