With the series tied 1-1 and their Defensive Player of the Year and MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama sidelined in concussion protocol, the San Antonio Spurs took Game 3 on the road, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 120-108.
Here are three key takeaways from Game 3:
Rookie takeover
Dylan Harper had just 5 points at halftime. He scored 22 in the second half, finishing with 27 on 9-of-12 shooting — 4-of-5 from 3, 5-of-6 from the line — and a game-high plus-24. He attacked Portland’s closeouts, knocking down shots with confidence, making quick, decisive reads and finishing in traffic. He was unbelievable, becoming the second-youngest player in NBA history to score 20 points in a playoff game coming off the bench. Oh, and he’s the fourth rookie to have 25 points and 10 rebounds off the bench in a playoff game.
Carter Bryant didn’t score, but he made his presence felt. He went 1-for-5 and finished with 3 points. He also had 4 blocks, 6 rebounds and closed the game plus-17. Bryant’s scrappiness on the glass led to four offensive rebounds and his defense was the deterrent the Spurs needed without Wembanyama. Mitch Johnson’s decision to trust both of them in the second half of a playoff road game speaks volumes to their development and impact.
Second-year guard Stephon Castle was the engine underneath all of it, pacing the Spurs with 33 points (10-18 FG, 3-4 3PM, 10-11 FT) and 5 assists. Castle led the Spurs with 11 in the fourth and was locked in offensively all night.
Mitch Johnson’s adjustment won the second half
Portland led by six at halftime and looked like the better team. Then Johnson went small. Between Harper’s explosive scoring and leaning on Bryant and Keldon Johnson, the Spurs’ bench brought the physical and defensive identity that was muted in the first half. It finished +61 for the game.
Together, that small-ball group changed Portland’s approach at the rim, forced contested looks and made the Blazers’ role players uncomfortable in the half-court throughout the second half. San Antonio outscored Portland 61-43 after the break.
Not to get lost in the second-half dominance, Luke Kornet filled in admirably for Wembanyama. The Spurs were 20-5 in the regular season with Kornet as a starter, so this wasn’t unfamiliar territory. He was great, going 6-for-9 from the field and scoring 14 points with 10 rebounds (5 offensive). The Spurs scored almost half of their 22 second-chance points in the third and fourth quarters, showing that extra effort is what helped them take over midway through the third and not look back.
Portland ran out of answers
Holiday and Henderson were the reasons Portland led at halftime. They combined for over 31 first-half points, shooting an efficient 12-for-19 from the field and 7-for-11 from 3. Big man Robert Williams III stepped up as well, finishing with 11 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks in 25 minutes off the bench. Though Williams remained solid, the rest of his team went cold.
Portland shot 4-of-17 from 3 in the second half, including 1-of-7 in the fourth quarter. A team that scored 65 points through two quarters managed just 43 in the final two. Deni Avdija is the defining example, finishing with 19 points (3-15 FG, 12-16 FT) and 9 assists but shooting 2-for-7 in the second half.
Across the final two frames, the Blazers shot 36% from the field, 24% from 3 and 7-of-12 from the line. Their depth couldn’t keep up with Harper’s onslaught, as he doubled the output of the Blazers bench in the final two quarters. Interim head coach Tiago Splitter has to improve his rotations (more Time Lord, less Donovan Clingan), and Portland’s role players have to contribute more offensively.
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