The wait is OVER — the San Antonio Spurs are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2019, and Mike Taylor & Rudy Jay are coming to you LIVE from In The Building with full post-game reaction, analysis, and the hottest takes from Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs!
We're breaking down every play, every run, and every moment from tonight's Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers showdown at Frost Bank Center — including the most talked about moment of the night: Victor Wembanyama's first-ever NBA Playoff game.
THE HISTORY BETWEEN THESE TWO TEAMS
This isn't just any first-round matchup. The Spurs and Trail Blazers have met in the playoffs 4 times, with San Antonio holding a commanding 3-1 edge in series wins. Their playoff history includes the 2014 Western Conference Semifinals (Spurs win 4-1), the 1999 Western Conference Finals (Spurs win 4-0), the 1993 Western Conference Finals (Spurs win 3-1), and the 1990 Western Conference Semifinals — the one time Portland came out on top, winning 4-3. San Antonio has owned this matchup, and tonight was another chapter in that storied rivalry.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS SERIES
- The Spurs enter as the #2 seed in the West with a 62-20 record, their best in years, while the Blazers punched their ticket as the #7 seed after surviving a dramatic Play-In game against the Phoenix Suns.
- Tonight featured 13 players making their playoff debut, with 7 from San Antonio and 6 from Portland — and Wembanyama's first playoff start was the main event everyone tuned in for.
- This is also a clash of two first-time playoff head coaches — Mitch Johnson, who took over for Gregg Popovich after his stroke, and Tiago Splitter, interim coach for Portland and a former Spurs champion himself.
- Keep an eye on Deni Avdija, who put up All-NBA-caliber numbers this season with 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game for Portland.
SUBSCRIBE & HIT THE BELL — We're going LIVE after EVERY San Antonio Spurs playoff game this postseason. Don't miss a single reaction, breakdown, or debate. Mike Taylor and Rudy Jay will be here every step of the way on the road to a championship!
Drop your thoughts in the comments — Who impressed you tonight? How does this series play out?
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