NBA Playoffs: San Antonio Spurs win series against Portland Trail Blazers

Victor Wembanyama claimed a double-double to help the San Antonio Spurs secure their first series win in the NBA playoffs for nine years.

The Spurs led by 28 points after a 114-95 win at Texas and a 4-1 series win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Wembaniama registered 17 points and 14 rebounds and De’Aaron Fox scored a game-high 21 as six San Antonio players reached double figures.

“That was as sharp as we got,” said Spurs coach Mitch Johnson, whose team is the second seed in the Western Conference and joins the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference semifinals.

Wembanyama, who has already been Named this season’s Defensive Player of the YearAdded six blocks for San Antonio.

“(They’re) a great basketball team,” added Portland coach Tiago Splitter. “They have a superstar who changed the game. They deserve it.”

The Spurs next face either the Denver Nuggets or the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the Timberwolves leading the series 3-2.

In the Eastern Conference, Joel Embiid scored 33 points Philadelphia 76ers Boston won 113-97 over the Celtics to keep their streak alive.

Embiid was playing his second game since undergoing an emergency appendectomy on April 9 and helped the Sixers cut their series deficit to 3-2.

If they can win Game 6 in Philadelphia on Thursday, the series will be decided in second-seeded Boston on Saturday.

“I found my rhythm in the second half,” Embiid said. “We adjusted some things at halftime and got a win. That’s what matters.

“We’re going to need everyone to come back to Boston.”

The winners will either face off New York Knicks Or the Atlanta Hawks, third-seeded New York went up 3-2 after a 126-97 home win.

Jalen Brunson scored 17 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter to keep the Knicks clean while London-born teammate Ozzy Anunoby claimed 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Atlanta wins at home on Thursday and returns to New York for the series decider on Saturday.