After a turbulent season, the Portland Trail Blazers returned to an electrified Moda Center Friday night, taking on the San Antonio Spurs in their first home playoff game in five years.

But it was a difficult homecoming, as the team gave up a 15-point second half lead and couldn’t keep up with a fourth quarter surge by the Spurs and lost 120-108. The win puts the Spurs up 2-1 in the best of seven game series.

“I just feel bad that we couldn’t bring a W,” Interim Head Coach Tiago Splitter told reporters after the game. “The fans were amazing. They brought the energy. They were there with us.”

Friday’s game was packed with more than 20,000 chanting people who were thrilled to see the Blazers back in Portland in the postseason. As they poured through the doors Friday night, few said they expected to see this young squad make it into the playoffs, let alone have a chance at beating a team that ended its regular season ranked second in the Western Conference.

“And that’s what makes it all the more beautiful,” fan Chris Magana said. “I don’t think many people expected us to be here, including myself. So every game is special.”

The Blazers came into Friday’s game with momentum. They beat the Spurs 106-103 in San Antonio on Tuesday night. The victory came after Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4-inch French phenom and unanimous NBA defensive player of the year, lost his balance, crashed to the floor and suffered a concussion. Wembanyama traveled to Portland but remained on the bench Friday night.

The Blazers came out strong in the first quarter. A series of threes from Scoot Henderson and then two alley-oops from Robert Williams III helped Portland to an early lead. They briefly fell behind the Spurs in the second quarter but rallied, ending the half six points ahead.

They returned from halftime and quickly extended their lead to as many as 15 points, helped along by Jrue Holiday, who led the Blazers with 29 points. The Spurs fought back, winning the battle off the glass and pulling ahead just as the third quarter ended.

The teams traded leads at the top of the fourth, but as the quarter progressed the young Blazers struggled to maintain their composure, repeatedly missing three-point shots. In the end, the Spurs dominated the final period, carried by a 33-point performance from Stephon Castle and 27 points from rookie Dylan Harper. Some Portland fans walked out before the game ended.

“We were not efficient,” Splitter said. “Not our best night.”

Friday’s game comes at a pivotal moment for the franchise, which was recently sold to a new ownership group led by the Texas billionaire, Tom Dundon. This followed months of jockeying over the team’s future in the Moda Center, which the Oregon Legislature is dedicating $365 million to renovate.

The team said it still needs hundreds of millions more to replace the Moda Center. Venture capitalist Sheel Tyle, who is part of the group that bought the team, previously dismissed the notion that they intended to move the team out of the Rose City. Fans, of course, are adamant that losing the Blazers would mean losing a key part of Portland’s identity.

“Unless you’re living under a rock, everyone knows Rip City (is) synonymous with Portland,” said fan Sherletha Perron. “It’s not just an NBA basketball team. It’s a culture. And that cannot be anywhere else.”

This week, Dundon faced an icy reception from some fans who were concerned about his frugality. Among other things, the team did not provide fans with customary free playoff T-shirts for the game. On Friday, some fans wondered what that could mean for how the team will be managed moving forward.

“It just seems like a lot of distractions at this time of year,” fan Rich Vigorito said. “Like all the cheapness and all the stories you read on the internet. Pump the brakes on all the change and let’s get through the year and see how things go.”

The Blazers’ playoff push would have been hard to see at the beginning of the season. Following the team’s first game, the FBI arrested head coach Chauncey Billups on charges of wire fraud and money laundering in connection with an illegal poker ring.

Billups, who the league placed on indefinite suspension, pleaded not guilty to all charges. Splitter, who was assistant coach, took over the interim head coaching job.

Although many of the team’s best players suffered long-term injuries, the team still managed to win more than 40 games for the first time in five seasons. Despite the whirlwind year, many fans remain hopeful for their team’s future.

“Even when they suck, we’re here,” said fan Windy Seto. “We have a young team. I think we have a lot of development we can do. We could be really competitive if the resources are there and we keep the support behind the team. I’m optimistic — if the owner gets their mind right.”

The Blazers will return to the Moda Center for their next matchup with the Spurs at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/25/portland-trail-blazers-lose-playoff/