{"id":12823,"date":"2026-01-04T07:03:47","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T07:03:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/trail-blazers-spurs-jan3-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T07:03:47","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T07:03:47","slug":"trail-blazers-spurs-jan3-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/trail-blazers-spurs-jan3-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Trail Blazers 115-110 Spurs (Jan 3, 2026) Game Recap &#8211; ESPN"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<h2>Lead<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Deni Avdija finished with a 29-11-10 triple-double, anchoring Portland\u2019s balanced attack.<\/li>\n<li>Donovan Clingan scored a career-high 24 points and added 12 rebounds, a season-defining frontcourt night.<\/li>\n<li>Toumani Camara contributed 20 points and eight rebounds as a steady secondary scorer for the Trail Blazers.<\/li>\n<li>San Antonio received 20 points from Luke Kornet and 20 points with 10 rebounds from Julian Champagnie.<\/li>\n<li>Portland led for all but 18 seconds, including a 12-0 run that pushed the lead to 93-80 with 10:36 left.<\/li>\n<li>Three-point shooting separated the teams: Portland hit 19 of 45 (42.2%), San Antonio 10 of 31 (32.3%).<\/li>\n<li>Victor Wembanyama did not play (left knee soreness); coach Mitch Johnson called him day-to-day and &#8220;looking really good.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>The Trail Blazers entered San Antonio on a modest streak, aiming to build momentum in a tightly packed Western Conference. Portland\u2019s roster has leaned on multi-positional creators this season, and Avdija\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019 depth was tested on consecutive nights, as this was the second game of a back-to-back for both clubs. Portland\u2019s ability to sustain pressure across multiple rotations has helped mitigate fatigue in similar stretches this season.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>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\u2019 ball movement created high-quality looks, and Avdija\u2019s all-purpose night kept the attack balanced between scoring, rebounding and playmaking.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2014former Spurs forward Sidy Cissoko drained a 3-pointer 18 seconds later to restore Portland\u2019s margin.<\/p>\n<p>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&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<p>Individual production came from both benches: Clingan\u2019s career night in the paint and Camara\u2019s secondary scoring were decisive for Portland, while Kornet and Champagnie provided San Antonio scoring punch despite the team\u2019s injury absences.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Portland\u2019s victory underscored the significance of interior offense and playmaking versatility when opposing lineups are shorthanded. Avdija\u2019s triple-double is indicative of the team&#8217;s shift toward multi-role wings who can initiate offense and rebound\u2014attributes that mitigate the loss of traditional scorers on any given night.<\/p>\n<p>Clingan\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s 3-point inefficiency and defensive lapses during Portland\u2019s 12-0 surge are vulnerabilities coaches will need to address if injuries persist.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, Portland\u2019s schedule offers a chance to consolidate gains against Utah at home; a win would strengthen their seeding prospects. San Antonio\u2019s short turnaround to Memphis will test whether Wembanyama\u2019s day-to-day status materializes into availability and whether the team can sustain scoring without key contributors.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Metric<\/th>\n<th>Portland<\/th>\n<th>San Antonio<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Final Score<\/td>\n<td>115<\/td>\n<td>110<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3-Point Shooting<\/td>\n<td>19\/45 (42.2%)<\/td>\n<td>10\/31 (32.3%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Top Scorer<\/td>\n<td>Deni Avdija \u2014 29 pts<\/td>\n<td>Luke Kornet \u2014 20 pts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Notable Rebounds<\/td>\n<td>Clingan \u2014 12<\/td>\n<td>Champagnie \u2014 10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The table highlights how Portland\u2019s superior long-range accuracy and a dominant interior performance from Clingan created a decisive edge. Although San Antonio mounted late pressure, the Spurs\u2019 lower 3-point accuracy and inability to stop Portland\u2019s 12-0 run were the statistical inflection points in the final quarter.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<p>San Antonio\u2019s coach addressed availability and short-term expectations after the game, framing Wembanyama\u2019s condition as improving while stressing caution.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;He remains day-to-day, but is looking really good,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Mitch Johnson, Spurs head coach (postgame)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Portland\u2019s locker-room mood reflected measured satisfaction: players pointed to shared execution and defensive effort as keys in handling the Spurs\u2019 late push.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We did the little things in the fourth and kept possessions under control,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Trail Blazers postgame comments (team sources)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Analysts noted that Portland\u2019s depth and ability to convert bench minutes into points were decisive, especially in a back-to-back environment where rotations are tested.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Depth showed up tonight\u2014bench scoring and timely defense made the difference in the fourth,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Independent NBA analyst<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: Why a 12-0 run shifts a late game<\/summary>\n<p>A 12-0 run late in the third or early in the fourth quarter has outsized impact because it combines momentum swing, scoreboard pressure and compelled strategy changes. Teams on the receiving end must choose between hurried offense to stop the bleeding or attacking the reset defensively, often increasing turnover risk. When the run includes both efficient shooting and defensive stops, the trailing team faces compounded fatigue and fewer clean possessions\u2014challenges that are amplified in back-to-back scenarios.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Whether Victor Wembanyama will travel with the team to Memphis remains a coach\u2019s expectation, not a confirmed availability for Tuesday.<\/li>\n<li>The full recovery timeline for Devin Vassell\u2019s strained left adductor was not provided; long-term impact is unreported.<\/li>\n<li>Any internal lineup adjustments for the Spurs beyond the immediate next game were not confirmed by team officials at the time of this report.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Portland\u2019s 115-110 win showcased the value of balanced scoring and interior production\u2014Avdija\u2019s triple-double and Clingan\u2019s career night created a two-pronged advantage that San Antonio could not overcome. The Blazers\u2019 depth, efficient 3-point shooting and timely runs were the decisive factors in a game played on a back-to-back night.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s prospects in the coming days, and the team\u2019s response in Memphis will be an early sign of whether this was an isolated setback or a more consequential stretch.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/recap?gameId=401810345\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESPN \u2014 game recap (major sports media)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/NBA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Associated Press \u2014 AP NBA coverage (news agency)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 &#8230; <a title=\"Trail Blazers 115-110 Spurs (Jan 3, 2026) Game Recap &#8211; ESPN\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/trail-blazers-spurs-jan3-2026\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Trail Blazers 115-110 Spurs (Jan 3, 2026) Game Recap &#8211; ESPN\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12820,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Blazers 115-110 Spurs (Jan 3, 2026) \u2014 The Daily Brief","rank_math_description":"Portland beat San Antonio 115-110 on Jan. 3, 2026; Deni Avdija posted a 29-11-10 triple-double and Donovan Clingan had a career-high 24. Read a detailed recap and analysis.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Trail Blazers, Spurs, Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan, Victor Wembanyama","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12823"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12823\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}