Lead
On Jan. 3, 2026 in San Antonio, the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Spurs 115-110 as Deni Avdija recorded a 29-point triple-double and Donovan Clingan posted a career-high 24 points. Portland led virtually the entire game, holding the edge for all but 18 seconds, and closed out a second straight victory. San Antonio, missing Victor Wembanyama (left knee soreness) and Devin Vassell (strained left adductor), rallied late but could not complete the comeback. The result leaves Portland preparing to host Utah Monday while the Spurs travel to Memphis Tuesday.
Key Takeaways
- Deni Avdija finished with a 29-11-10 triple-double, anchoring Portland’s balanced attack.
- Donovan Clingan scored a career-high 24 points and added 12 rebounds, a season-defining frontcourt night.
- Toumani Camara contributed 20 points and eight rebounds as a steady secondary scorer for the Trail Blazers.
- San Antonio received 20 points from Luke Kornet and 20 points with 10 rebounds from Julian Champagnie.
- Portland led for all but 18 seconds, including a 12-0 run that pushed the lead to 93-80 with 10:36 left.
- Three-point shooting separated the teams: Portland hit 19 of 45 (42.2%), San Antonio 10 of 31 (32.3%).
- Victor Wembanyama did not play (left knee soreness); coach Mitch Johnson called him day-to-day and “looking really good.”
Background
The Trail Blazers entered San Antonio on a modest streak, aiming to build momentum in a tightly packed Western Conference. Portland’s roster has leaned on multi-positional creators this season, and Avdija’s playmaking has become increasingly central to their halfcourt offense. The Spurs, meanwhile, had been finding rhythm recently, riding a two-game winning run into this matchup before injuries altered their rotation.
Injury management has been a recurring theme for San Antonio, with the absence of All-Star center Victor Wembanyama and wing Devin Vassell reshaping the game plan. The Spurs’ depth was tested on consecutive nights, as this was the second game of a back-to-back for both clubs. Portland’s ability to sustain pressure across multiple rotations has helped mitigate fatigue in similar stretches this season.
Main Event
Portland controlled the early tempo, never relinquishing the lead in the first half and expanding it to as many as 15 points while San Antonio struggled from deep (3-for-12 through intermission). The Blazers’ ball movement created high-quality looks, and Avdija’s all-purpose night kept the attack balanced between scoring, rebounding and playmaking.
The Spurs briefly seized their only lead midway through the third quarter when Kelly Olynyk made a free throw after an off-ball foul following a Julian Champagnie 3-point attempt, putting San Antonio up 74-71. That advantage proved fleeting—former Spurs forward Sidy Cissoko drained a 3-pointer 18 seconds later to restore Portland’s margin.
Bridging the third and fourth, Portland rattled off a 12-0 run to move ahead 93-80 with 10:36 left, forcing San Antonio to chase for the remainder of regulation. The Spurs countered late with a run keyed by a steal from De’Aaron Fox and a feed to Stephon Castle for a breakaway dunk that trimmed the lead to 111-110 with 1:36 remaining, but Portland then executed enough stops and efficient possession play to close the game.
Individual production came from both benches: Clingan’s career night in the paint and Camara’s secondary scoring were decisive for Portland, while Kornet and Champagnie provided San Antonio scoring punch despite the team’s injury absences.
Analysis & Implications
Portland’s victory underscored the significance of interior offense and playmaking versatility when opposing lineups are shorthanded. Avdija’s triple-double is indicative of the team’s shift toward multi-role wings who can initiate offense and rebound—attributes that mitigate the loss of traditional scorers on any given night.
Clingan’s emergence as a reliable interior scorer adds a mismatch problem for opponents; his career-high 24 points and 12 rebounds forced San Antonio to allocate extra attention to the paint. For Portland, sustained production from bench wings like Camara improves their second-unit floor spacing and defensive balance.
For the Spurs, missing Wembanyama and Vassell exposed depth limits, especially on the perimeter and in rim protection. Their ability to mount late rallies shows competitive fight, but the team’s 3-point inefficiency and defensive lapses during Portland’s 12-0 surge are vulnerabilities coaches will need to address if injuries persist.
Looking ahead, Portland’s schedule offers a chance to consolidate gains against Utah at home; a win would strengthen their seeding prospects. San Antonio’s short turnaround to Memphis will test whether Wembanyama’s day-to-day status materializes into availability and whether the team can sustain scoring without key contributors.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Portland | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 115 | 110 |
| 3-Point Shooting | 19/45 (42.2%) | 10/31 (32.3%) |
| Top Scorer | Deni Avdija — 29 pts | Luke Kornet — 20 pts |
| Notable Rebounds | Clingan — 12 | Champagnie — 10 |
The table highlights how Portland’s superior long-range accuracy and a dominant interior performance from Clingan created a decisive edge. Although San Antonio mounted late pressure, the Spurs’ lower 3-point accuracy and inability to stop Portland’s 12-0 run were the statistical inflection points in the final quarter.
Reactions & Quotes
San Antonio’s coach addressed availability and short-term expectations after the game, framing Wembanyama’s condition as improving while stressing caution.
“He remains day-to-day, but is looking really good,”
Mitch Johnson, Spurs head coach (postgame)
Portland’s locker-room mood reflected measured satisfaction: players pointed to shared execution and defensive effort as keys in handling the Spurs’ late push.
“We did the little things in the fourth and kept possessions under control,”
Trail Blazers postgame comments (team sources)
Analysts noted that Portland’s depth and ability to convert bench minutes into points were decisive, especially in a back-to-back environment where rotations are tested.
“Depth showed up tonight—bench scoring and timely defense made the difference in the fourth,”
Independent NBA analyst
Unconfirmed
- Whether Victor Wembanyama will travel with the team to Memphis remains a coach’s expectation, not a confirmed availability for Tuesday.
- The full recovery timeline for Devin Vassell’s strained left adductor was not provided; long-term impact is unreported.
- Any internal lineup adjustments for the Spurs beyond the immediate next game were not confirmed by team officials at the time of this report.
Bottom Line
Portland’s 115-110 win showcased the value of balanced scoring and interior production—Avdija’s triple-double and Clingan’s career night created a two-pronged advantage that San Antonio could not overcome. The Blazers’ depth, efficient 3-point shooting and timely runs were the decisive factors in a game played on a back-to-back night.
For the Spurs, the loss highlights the thin margin between holding a late lead and closing out a game without key contributors. Short-term recovery updates on Wembanyama and Vassell will shape San Antonio’s prospects in the coming days, and the team’s response in Memphis will be an early sign of whether this was an isolated setback or a more consequential stretch.