Fox scores 25 points to lead short-handed Spurs to defeat the Trail Blazers 112-101.
Fox scores 25 points to lead short-handed Spurs to defeat the Trail Blazers 112-101.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — De’Aaron Fox scored 25 points, and the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 112-101 on Wednesday night, despite the absence of Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle due to injury.
San Antonio (61-19) is 28-3 since February 1 and has its best record since 2017, when it made its final appearance in the Western Conference finals during a 22-year playoff run that includes five NBA championships.
Deni Avdija scored 27 points and Scoot Henderson added 20 for the Trail Blazers, who have lost two straight games following a three-game winning streak.
Portland (40-40) is still tenth in the West, only two and a half games ahead of Golden State (37-42) entering the last weekend of the regular season.
San Antonio has six players in double digits to compensate for the absence of the NBA’s previous two Rookie of the Year winners. Keldon Johnson scored 20 points, while rookie forward Carter Bryant added a season-high 17.
Wembanyama bruised a rib on Monday, and Castle is out with right knee pain. San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson says the Spurs aim to have both players available for Friday’s home game against Dallas.
Wembanyama has to play at least 20 minutes in one more game to meet the league’s 65-game minimum for award eligibility.
The Spurs began the game slowly, missing their initial three shots and committing a turnover within the first two minutes.
Fox got them started, scoring 10 points on 4-for-4 shooting in the first 4:13 to give the Spurs a 12-8 advantage. Fox was 10 for 20 from the field and led San Antonio in scoring for the first time since March 1.
San Antonio finished the first quarter with an 8-0 run, establishing its first double-digit lead in the opening seconds of the second.
San Antonio completed the third quarter on a 13-2 run to build a four-point lead and cruise to its second straight victory.
The Trail Blazers will host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.