Blazers rally stuns Spurs after Wembanyama injury

TL;DR

The Portland Trail Blazers upset the San Antonio Spurs 106-103 after Victor Wembanyama suffered a head injury and was ruled out of the game. Despite a strong lead, the Spurs faltered in the fourth quarter, allowing the Blazers to secure the victory.

Key points

Victor Wembanyama exited the game with a head injury
Portland Trail Blazers won 106-103 against San Antonio Spurs
Spurs led by 14 points before losing the game
Scoot Henderson led Blazers with 31 points
Game three is on Friday in Portland

Victor WembanyamaSan Antonio SpursPortland Trail BlazersScoot Henderson

Victor Wembanyama exited the San Antonio Spurs' playoff clash with the Portland Trail Blazers after suffering a head injury (Ronald Cortes) (Ronald Cortes/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP) The Portland Trail Blazers exploited an injury to Victor Wembanyama to score an upset 106-103 victory over the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs in their NBA Western Conference playoff series on Tuesday. San Antonio superstar Wembanyama -- who had scored 35 points in the Spurs' game one win on Sunday -- exited in the second quarter at the Frost Bank Center in Texas after hitting his head on the court following a collision with Portland's Jrue Holiday. The 22-year-old looked groggy as he lay on the floor for several minutes before getting to his feet and jogging to the locker room. The 7ft 4in (2.24m) forward was subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the game after entering the concussion protocol. San Antonio looked to have overcome Wembanyama's injury as they pulled into a 14-point lead early in the fourth quarter, leading 93-79 with just over eight minutes left on the clock. But with victory seemingly in sight, San Antonio's shooting went ice cold and the absence of newly crowned NBA defensive player of the year Wembanyama was keenly felt as a determined Portland snaffled victory, closing the fourth quarter with a 27-10 run. Scoot Henderson led Portland's scoring with 31 points, while Holiday added 16. "Basketball is a game of runs, and the basketball gods are always gonna repay the ones that play the game right," Henderson told NBC television afterwards. Game three of the best-of-seven series takes place in Portland on Friday.

Q&A

What happened to Victor Wembanyama during the game?

Victor Wembanyama suffered a head injury after a collision and was ruled out of the game after entering the concussion protocol.

How did the Blazers manage to win against the Spurs?

The Blazers capitalized on Wembanyama's absence, overcoming a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win with a 27-10 run.

What were Wembanyama's stats before his injury?

Before his injury, Victor Wembanyama scored 35 points in the Spurs' game one win against the Blazers.

When is the next game in the Spurs vs. Blazers playoff series?

Game three of the best-of-seven series is scheduled to take place in Portland on Friday.