Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
2025-26 NBA Post Season
Playoffs, first round - Game 1
San Antonio Spurs v Portland Trail Blazers
Frost Bank Center
San Antonio, Texas
Monday 20 April 2026
Tip-off at 03:00
San Antonio Spurs will be in confident mood when they take on Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round Playoffs at the Frost Bank Center on the morning of Monday, April 20.
The Spurs pushed Oklahoma City Thunder all the way in the West, winning 11 games on the spin before two defeats to Denver Nuggets down the final stretch ended their hopes of being top seeds.
Mitch Johnson's team finished with the second-best record in the NBA (62-20) behind the Thunder to qualify for the Playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
Victor Wembanyama spearheaded their challenge, averaging 25.0 points per game, 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists to emerge as a candidate for the league's MVP.
Johnson anticipates a tough series against the Blazers, saying: "They're gonna get up and challenge you to handle the basketball, try to get you out of your sets or at least your normal rhythm and tempo.
"And they're really gonna challenge your transition. [They've] got a lot of guys who can really attack with the basketball in their hands. It should be a really competitive and well-fought series."
San Antonio have faced Portland four times in the post-season, winning their last three-match-ups comfortably, most recently coming out on top in the 2014 Western Conference semi-finals (4-1).
The Blazers had to come through the play-in tournament to reach the Playoffs for the first time in five years after finishing seventh in the West.
Tiago Splitter's team narrowly defeated Phoenix Suns 114-110 on April 15, having overturned an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter thanks to a huge performance from Deni Avdija, who posted 41 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists.
Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
Splitter made more history by becoming the first Brazilian to lead a franchise to the Playoffs, but he chose to focus on the accomplishments of the team after a challenging campaign.
"I think it's a culmination of a tough year, but this group is very resilient," he said. "I think we showed that in the fourth quarter, just believing in ourselves and getting it done.
"I'm happy for them. They went through a lot throughout the season. It's a great accomplishment for this group.
"Now you got to go to the playoff and perform there... you got other adjustments game by game."
San Antonio Spurs v Portland Trail Blazers - Head-to-head, Post Season
Games played: 20
Spurs wins: 14
Blazers wins: 6
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