NBA: Stephon Castle, Wemby-less Spurs snag series edge against Blazers

Stephon Castle hit for 33 points and rookie reserve Dylan Harper added career bests of 27 points and 10 boards as the visiting San Antonio Spurs roared back to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 120-108 on Friday in Game 3 of a first-round Western Conference playoff series.

San Antonio erased a 15-point third-quarter deficit and took a 2-1 lead in the series. Game 4 is set for Portland on Sunday.

The Spurs won with Victor Wembanyama on the bench after their star player was ruled out before the game because of concussion protocol. He sustained a head injury in the second quarter of Game 2 on Tuesday.

Castle said of what was working for him, "Really everything. I mean, I have this sort of confidence going through me. And, you know, I don't want to go home. I want our team to win. Obviously, the big fella was out tonight, so we needed a little bit more from everybody."

The Spurs trailed by six points at halftime and were down 82-67 past the midpoint of the third quarter before roaring back to take an 88-87 lead into the fourth. Harper scored 12 points and grabbed four rebounds in the third to lead the comeback.

Harper then posted San Antonio's first 10 points of the fourth quarter to help the visitors forge a 15-1 run that built a 108-96 lead with 5:48 to play. The Trail Blazers closed to within nine points on Jrue Holiday's layup with 2:47 left but would never seriously challenge again.

Asked what changed late in the game, Castle said, "I think our defense and our rebounding. We made an emphasis on that before the game, but we weren't really doing it the first half that well. We fixed it by not allowing them to get offensive rebounds and get out on the run."

Portland acting coach Tiago Splitter said of his team's play in the third and fourth quarters, "We weren't as involved. (San Antonio was the) most physical team in the second half. They played better. Made shots.

"I think Harper and Castle were unbelievable. Played a very good game, getting to the line, shooting threes, being physical on defense, rebounding, pushing (Clingan) around, all of them, they were more physical than us. Rebounding 50/50 balls. That was the game, and they were just better."

De'Aaron Fox added 18 points for the Spurs, with Luke Kornet racking up 14 points and 10 rebounds while Devin Vassell contributed 11 points.

Holiday finished with 29 points to lead Portland. Scoot Henderson added 21, Deni Avdija scored 19, Jerami Grant tallied 13 and Robert Williams put up 11 for the Trail Blazers. Donovan Clingan grabbed 11 rebounds and Avdija handed out nine assists.

Portland led 29-27 after the first quarter. San Antonio was up 41-35 before the Trail Blazers rode Holiday's eight straight points as part of an 18-4 run that produced a 53-45 lead.

Grant's 3-pointer with 6.9 seconds left allowed Portland to carry a 65-59 lead to the break.

Castle racked up 19 points to lead all scorers in the first half. Holiday's 17 points paced the Trail Blazers before halftime.

Portland expanded its lead to 15 points after a pair of free throws by Grant with 5:09 to play in the third, but the rest of the quarter belonged to the Spurs.

Holiday said, "This loss hurts, but we got another one on Sunday. Can't hang your hat on it too low. Maybe take it on the chin tonight, but then tomorrow, back to work."

-Field Level Media/Reuters