Spurs advance; Rockets extend series with gritty wins
PUBLISHED Apr 29, 2026, 6:48 AM ET
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San Antonio. The Spurs eliminated the Portland Trail Blazers 114-95 in Game 5 on Tuesday, winning their first playoff series since 2019. Victor Wembanyama finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks. San Antonio held Portland under 100 points three times while capturing the Western Conference first-round series in five games, and the team's lack of postseason experience proved not to be a major factor as they advanced. Los Angeles. The Houston Rockets avoided elimination Wednesday, beating the Lakers 99-93 to trim Los Angeles' lead to 3-2. Jabari Smith Jr. scored 22 points, Tari Eason added 18 and Alperen Sengun recorded a near-triple-double; the victory sends the series back to Houston for a Game 6 on Friday night.
By Lauren Mitchell | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- Spurs integrated Victor Wembanyama and youthful core during the season.
- San Antonio finished regular season 62-20 and secured the West's second seed.
- Spurs and Trail Blazers contested a first-round series; San Antonio held Portland under 100 points multiple games.
- Spurs won Game 5 114-95 on Tuesday, eliminating Portland and clinching the series.
- Rockets beat Lakers 99-93 on Wednesday, sending the series to a Friday Game 6 in Houston.
News Intelligence
- The Spurs' victory shows the power of a youthful core, even in high-stakes games. If you're a fan, it's a thrilling time to watch this team grow. And if you're a parent, it's a great teaching moment about teamwork and perseverance.
- Articles Published:
- 4
- Right Leaning:
- 0
- Left Leaning:
- 1
- Neutral:
- 3
- Distribution:
- Left 25%, Center 75%, Right 0%
The San Antonio Spurs benefited by winning their first playoff series since 2019, and the Houston Rockets benefited by avoiding elimination and forcing a Game 6 to extend their postseason hopes.
The Portland Trail Blazers suffered elimination after losing the Game 5 series decider, and the Los Angeles Lakers lost momentum by dropping Game 5 and seeing the series return to Houston.
Coverage of Story:
From Left
Spurs win first playoff series in nine years with perfect harmony around Victor Wembanyama
The New York TimesFrom Center
Spurs advance; Rockets extend series with gritty wins
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer AP NEWS Owensboro Messenger-InquirerFrom Right
No right-leaning sources found for this story.
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