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Wembanyama does what no NBA player has done since 1997, also breaking Duncan’s record
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- Wembanyama does what no NBA player has done since 1997, also breaking Duncan’s record
Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images
Victor Wembanyama delivered a statement performance as the San Antonio Spurs opened their playoff run with a 111-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers .
San Antonio controlled the contest early and never lost momentum, with their offensive rhythm and defensive pressure proving too much for Portland. The result gives the Spurs a 1-0 lead and reinforces their status as serious contenders.
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Wembanyama led all scorers with 35 points in just 33 minutes, and his performance carried historical weight, placing him in territory no player has reached in decades.
Victor Wembanyama sets unique NBA mark in first half of playoff debut
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Wembanyama's impact was immediate, as he exploded for 21 points in the first half against Portland. That tally is the most ever recorded in the opening half of an NBA playoff debut, according to ESPN,
No player had achieved that feat in the play-by-play era, which began in 1997 when the league standardised detailed statistical tracking.
His scoring came in a variety of ways, blending perimeter skill with interior dominance. Portland struggled to contain his size and fluidity, allowing the Spurs to build a decisive early lead.
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The performance also set the tone for the rest of the game, as San Antonio maintained control and dictated pace throughout, limiting any realistic chance of a comeback from the visitors.
Another record places Wembanyama above Spurs legends
Wembanyama's night extended beyond league-wide history. His 35 points marked the highest total ever recorded by a Spurs player in a playoff debut.
ESPN reports that figure surpasses the previous record held by Tim Duncan , who scored 32 points in his first postseason appearance in 1998.
Breaking a mark set by one of the franchise's most iconic players highlights the scale of Wembanyama's achievement and endorses a new era in San Antonio.
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