San Antonio reach the second round after a long absence

French star Victor Wembanyama led the San Antonio Spurs to a long-awaited achievement, securing a place in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs in the NBA for the first time since 2017.

The Texas side sealed their qualification after defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 in the series, following a comfortable 114-95 victory in Game 5.

This achievement marks a return to contention for the Spurs after years away from the latter stages of the playoffs. Their last appearance at this level dates back to the 2016–17 season, when they reached the Western Conference Finals before being swept by the Golden State Warriors. Since then, the team has gone through a period of decline, failing to maintain a consistent playoff presence before launching a new project that has now paid off with a strong comeback led by a young core.

Wembanyama, now in his third NBA season, has proven to be the cornerstone of this transformation, fully adapting to the demands of the league. The Spurs finished the regular season in a strong position behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and translated that form into a dominant playoff series.

In the decisive game, the French star delivered an all-around performance with 17 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 blocks, underlining his impact on both ends of the court.

De’Aaron Fox also stood out, particularly in the fourth quarter, where he scored 13 of his 21 points to help secure the win. Wembanyama added two crucial defensive stops late in the game, further confirming Spurs’ superiority.

San Antonio will now face the winner of the closely contested series between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Minnesota currently leading 3-2—setting up a tough challenge in the next round.

In the Eastern Conference, Joel Embiid starred as he led the Philadelphia 76ers to an important 113-97 road win over the Boston Celtics, keeping the series alive.

Embiid scored 33 points, most of them in the second half, in a performance that reflected his gradual return to form after surgery and a lengthy absence, having only recently made his comeback.

After the game, Embiid admitted that regaining rhythm had not been easy, but he is beginning to feel improvement, especially after the team’s halftime adjustments, emphasizing that the win was what mattered most at this stage.

Tyrese Maxey contributed 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Paul George added 16 points. On the Celtics’ side, Jayson Tatum (24 points, 16 rebounds) and Jaylen Brown (22 points) were not enough to prevent defeat.

The game saw the 76ers dominate the fourth quarter 28-11, highlighting a surprising collapse from the Celtics.

In another series, the New York Knicks moved closer to qualification with a 126-97 victory over the Atlanta Hawks to take a 3-2 lead. Jalen Brunson starred with 39 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, along with 8 assists, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 16 points and 14 rebounds.

For Atlanta, Jalen Johnson was the standout performer with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists, but his team must now win Game 6 at home to force a decisive Game 7.

As the NBA playoffs heat up with stars like Wembanyama and Embiid delivering, fans in Bahrain are turning to Betway as the best online betting site to stay close to the action and elevate every game.