Spurs beat Trail Blazers 118-105, with Popovich missing his 4th straight game

Keldon Johnson and Malaki Branham had 17 points each and nan San Antonio Spurs hit Portland 118-105 connected Thursday nighttime successful their 4th crippled without coach Gregg Popovich

SAN ANTONIO -- Keldon Johnson and Malaki Branham had 17 points each and nan San Antonio Spurs hit Portland 118-105 connected Thursday nighttime successful their 4th crippled without coach Gregg Popovich.

Popovich has been retired since having a aesculapian section Saturday earlier a location crippled against Minnesota. Prior to nan crippled Thursday, Spurs acting caput coach Mitch Johnson said nan squad is unsure erstwhile Popovich will return.

Zach Collins and Julian Champagnie added 14 points each to thief nan Spurs threat a two-game skid. Victor Wembanyama had 12 points. Branham exited 2 minutes into nan 4th fourth aft rolling his correct ankle.

Deandre Ayton had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Portland. Jerami Grant besides had 21 points, and Anfernee Simons added 19.

Trail Blazers: Portland was 9 for 32 connected 3-pointers. Simons was 3 for 9 connected 3s, but nan remainder of nan starting lineup was 3 for 12.

Spurs: San Antonio has struggled to find a accordant 2nd scoring action down Wembanyama, but that should alteration pinch nan return of Devin Vassell. Vassell missed nan first 9 games pursuing offseason room for a accent guidance of nan 3rd metatarsal caput successful his correct foot.

With Portland trailing 64-62, San Antonio was capable to widen nan lead to 4 points connected a 3-pointer by Branham and off-the-ball foul connected Grant that Wembanyama converted into a free throw. The play gave nan Spurs a 68-62 lead.

Backups Branham, Johnson, Collins and Blake Wesley mixed for 58 points. With nan team’s extent thinning pinch injuries to Jeremy Sochan, Tre Jones, Vassell and now Branham, nan Spurs person needed greater contributions from much of their reserves.

Portland is astatine Minnesota connected Friday night. The Spurs big Utah connected Saturday.

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