NBA playoffs: Wembanyama continues to shine as Spurs advance to second round, 76ers stay alive

San Antonio Spurs, riding on Victor Wembanyama’s form, won a playoff series for the first time since 2017, chasing their first NBA title since 2016. Victor Wembanyama scored 17 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and blocked six shots to help the Spurs wrap up a 4-1 win in their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers. In the East, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid scored 33 points and eight assists as the 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 113-97, cutting the series deficit to 3-2. Embiid, recovering from an appendectomy, found his rhythm in the second half, while Tyrese Maxey added 25 points and 10 rebounds, and Paul George contributed 16 points and nine rebounds. The Spurs, who clawed back from a 19-point deficit in Game 4, dominated with a 65-45 halftime lead before Portland’s 11-0 run cut the fourth-quarter deficit to nine. De’Aaron Fox scored 13 of his 21 points in the final period, and Wembanyama, playing his second game after a concussion, delivered two massive blocks. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson noted the team’s improvement but emphasized the need for further growth. Seeded second in the West, the Spurs will face either the Denver Nuggets or Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals, with the Timberwolves leading 3-2. The Spurs aim for a sixth NBA title since 2014. Meanwhile, the 76ers, led by Embiid, will host Game 6 in Philadelphia on Thursday, with a potential Game 7 in Boston on Saturday. The Celtics, chasing their fifth consecutive second-round appearance, have missed the playoffs only once since 2007. The Spurs’ last playoff series win came in 2023 against the Brooklyn Nets. In the East, the Knicks seized a 3-2 lead over the Hawks with a 126-97 home victory, featuring Jalen Brunson’s 17 of 39 points and Karl-Anthony Towns’ 16 points and 14 rebounds. Atlanta must win Game 6 at home to force a Game 7 in New York.