SAN ANTONIO (Interstat) — Scoot Henderson scored 31 points and the Portland Trail Blazers rallied from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to edge the San Antonio Spurs 106-103 on Tuesday night, tying their Western Conference playoff series at one game apiece. The Spurs lost star Victor Wembanyama to a concussion in the second quarter after a foul by Jrue Holiday. San Antonio built an 80-66 lead early in the fourth before Portland closed the game on a 40-23 run. Holiday added 16 points and nine assists for the Trail Blazers. Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 16 points and 12 rebounds. The series shifts to Portland for Game 3 on Friday.

SAN ANTONIO (Interstat) — Scoot Henderson scored 31 points and the Portland Trail Blazers, capitalizing on the second-quarter injury to San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama, staged a furious fourth-quarter rally for a 106-103 victory Tuesday night to even their Western Conference first-round playoff series at one game apiece. The pivotal moment of Game 2 came with 6:54 remaining in the second quarter when Wembanyama, the Spurs’ versatile 7-foot-4 center, tumbled face-first after being fouled by Portland’s Jrue Holiday, his jaw slamming hard against the Frost Bank Center floor. The second-seeded Spurs announced Wembanyama had entered the NBA’s concussion protocol, raising the possibility he could miss multiple games in the series. Despite losing their franchise cornerstone, the Spurs, who entered the playoffs with a league-best 63-22 record, appeared poised to seize a commanding 2-0 series lead. They weathered a strong Portland start to take a 57-54 halftime advantage and then extended their lead to 14 points at 90-76 on a Devin Vassell pull-up jumper with 9:46 remaining in the game. From there, Portland’s defense stiffened and the Spurs’ offense collapsed. The Blazers unleashed a decisive 21-3 run over the next five minutes, transforming the deficit into a 97-93 lead. The surge was fueled by defensive stops and timely shooting. Henderson, the Blazers’ dynamic guard from Marietta, Georgia, ignited the run with a driving layup. Jrue Holiday then stripped Stephon Castle and found Toumani Camara for a transition three-pointer. On the next possession, Holiday connected on another three, giving Portland its first lead since the first quarter at 95-93. Holiday, who finished with 16 points, nine assists and two blocks, capped the run with a driving layup. San Antonio briefly stopped the bleeding with a Keldon Johnson three-pointer, but the Blazers responded. After a series of empty possessions from both teams, Deni Avdija found Camara for another critical three-pointer to put Portland ahead 104-101 with 1:38 to play. San Antonio had multiple chances to tie or take the lead in the final minute but came up empty. De’Aaron Fox missed a step-back three-pointer, and after an offensive rebound, the Spurs committed a shot-clock violation. Following a Portland miss, the Spurs had two clean looks to tie the game, but Vassell missed a three-pointer with 31 seconds left and, after a Blazers turnover, missed another three at the buzzer as Camara secured the final defensive rebound. Vassell led the Spurs with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Fox added 17 points and four assists, while rookie Stephon Castle contributed 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Luke Kornet provided 10 points and nine rebounds off the bench in Wembanyama’s absence. For Portland, Henderson’s 31-point performance on 11-of-22 shooting was his highest scoring output of the playoffs, bouncing back from an 18-point effort in Game 1. He was supported by a balanced effort: Avdija scored 14 points, Camara added 10 points and eight rebounds, and Robert Williams came off the bench to provide 11 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Center Donovan Clingan anchored the paint with nine points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. The game began at a frantic pace, with Portland building an early 15-4 lead behind hot three-point shooting. The Spurs, led by Wembanyama’s early activity, chipped away and took a 28-27 lead after the first quarter. The contest remained tight through the second and third periods, setting the stage for the dramatic final frame. The series now shifts to Portland for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Sunday. The Spurs, who were installed as 12.5-point favorites and had an 88.5% probability to win according to statistical models, must regroup without their best player. The Blazers, who improved to 44-41 overall, have seized home-court advantage and momentum heading back to Moda Center. Attendance was 19,338. The total points scored, 209, went under the betting over/under of 219.5.

SAN ANTONIO (Interstat) — The San Antonio Spurs will look to protect home court and take a commanding series lead when they host the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 2 of their first-round NBA playoff series Tuesday night at Frost Bank Center. The top-seeded Spurs, who finished the regular season with a Western Conference-best 62-21 record, seized home-court advantage with a 112-101 victory over the eighth-seeded Trail Blazers (43-40) in the series opener on April 8. San Antonio followed that with a dominant close to the season, winning seven of its final nine games, though it enters the playoffs coming off a 128-118 loss to Denver on April 12. Portland, meanwhile, arrives with momentum, winning five of its last six games to secure the final playoff berth. That surge was powered by forward Deni Avdija, who averaged 28.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.5 assists over his final 10 regular-season contests. He erupted for 41 points, 7 rebounds and 12 assists in a play-in clinching victory at Phoenix on April 14. The Spurs counter with All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox, who averaged 16.8 points and 5.9 assists in April. Fox scored 25 points with 7 assists in the April 8 win over Portland. The head-to-head season series was split 2-2, with each team winning once on the other’s home floor. San Antonio’s depth and experience as the conference’s top seed make them a formidable opponent. Alongside Fox, the Spurs feature a balanced attack with contributors like Devin Vassell and rookie Stephon Castle, who nearly recorded a triple-double (10 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists) in the recent loss to Denver. Portland’s hopes likely hinge on Avdija continuing his stellar play and receiving consistent support from veterans like Jrue Holiday and center Donovan Clingan, who provides a defensive presence in the paint. The Trail Blazers must improve their offensive efficiency after shooting just 43% from the field in the April 8 loss in San Antonio. According to National Statistical’s game simulator, the Spurs are projected to win 120-113. A victory would give San Antonio a 2-0 series lead before the matchup shifts to Portland for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Sunday. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CDT Tuesday.