SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Spurs used a dominant first quarter to build a 42-34 halftime advantage over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night at the Frost Bank Center.
The Spurs came out firing, establishing an early rhythm and overwhelming the Blazers’ defense. Led by the speed of De’Aaron Fox, who poured in 11 first-half points, San Antonio exploded for 32 points in the opening period. Their ball movement was crisp, and they capitalized on several Portland turnovers to take a commanding 32-23 lead after one.
The second quarter told a different story, as the game ground to a halt. Both teams struggled offensively, combining for a mere 21 points. The Blazers’ defense tightened considerably, holding the potent Spurs to just 10 points in the frame. While Portland won the quarter 11-10 behind the efforts of Toumani Camara (9 points) and Deni Avdija (8 points), they were unable to make a significant dent in the deficit they faced after the first.
Beyond Fox, rookie Dylan Harper provided a spark for San Antonio with 9 points and 3 assists. For Portland, Scoot Henderson was held to 6 points on inefficient shooting. The Blazers will need to rediscover their offensive flow and continue their defensive pressure to mount a comeback, while the Spurs will look to replicate their first-quarter execution to close out the game.
