PORTLAND, Ore. — In a thrilling encounter on Friday night, Victor Wembanyama recorded an impressive 28 points and secured a pivotal win for the San Antonio Spurs over the Portland Trail Blazers with two free throws halted the game clock at 2.1 seconds, finishing the match 118-116.

In a dramatic turn of events, Jerami Grant’s layup tied the game at 116 with just 6.1 seconds left on the clock. However, Wembanyama was fouled during the play, stepping up to the free-throw line to clinch the victory. Although the Blazers found themselves leading by as many as 17 points in the final quarter, the Spurs managed to battle back, tying the game at 109 with a free throw from Jeremy Sochan before Julian Champagnie hit a crucial three-pointer, giving San Antonio a lead with 2:08 remaining.

The Spurs faced challenges with only 11 players available due to injuries, and their veteran guard Chris Paul was ejected from the game in the first half after receiving two technical fouls. At halftime, San Antonio was in a favorable position, leading 52-42. However, the Blazers quickly caught up, and Grant’s 3-pointer tied the game at 60 during the third quarter. Heading into the final period, Portland had a solid lead at 88-80 and even extended it to 105-88 with 8:18 left in the match.

Grant was the standout player for the Blazers, finishing the game with 32 points, 22 of which came during a spectacular third-quarter performance. Anfernee Simons also made a notable contribution with 30 points. The Spurs saw Devin Vassell shine with 23 points off the bench, providing critical support in the tight contest.

For the Spurs, it was the first game of the season without Stephon Castle, who was sidelined due to a bruised left shoulder. Additionally, Zach Collins (bruised lower back), Keldon Johnson (left calf strain), and Tre Jones (sprained left shoulder) were also unavailable for this match. In a positive note for the Trail Blazers, Donovan Clingan made his return after missing seven games with a left knee sprain, receiving applause from the crowd during the first quarter.

A pivotal moment came when Chris Paul was ejected with just 1:03 remaining in the first quarter, leaving the Spurs with only 10 players to finish the game. Notably, Grant excelled from the perimeter, knocking down 8 out of 10 three-point attempts, tying his season-high record for threes made.

Looking ahead, the Spurs are set to host the Timberwolves, while the Trail Blazers will visit the Suns on Sunday.