The Western Conference’s second-seeded San Antonio Spurs will take on the seventh-seeded Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs. It’s the first time these teams have squared off in the postseason since the 2014 Western Conference semifinals, which the Spurs won in five games.San Antonio’s other starting big man in that series, lining up alongside Tim Duncan? A Brazilian guy by the name of Tiago Splitter — who’s now the interim head coach of the Trail Blazers.

It’s a small world, after all.East previews: 76ers-Celtics • Hawks-Knicks • Raptors-CavaliersWest previews: Timberwolves-Nuggets • Rockets-Lakers • Trail Blazers-SpursSeries schedule (all times Eastern)Game 1: Portland at San Antonio on Sunday, April 19 (9 p.m., NBC)Game 2: Portland at San Antonio on Tuesday, April 21 (8 p.m., NBC)Game 3: San Antonio at Portland on Friday, April 24 (10:30 p.m., Prime Video)Game 4: San Antonio at Portland on Sunday, April 26 (3:30 p.m., ESPN)*Game 5: Portland at San Antonio on Tuesday, April 28 (time and network TBD)*Game 6: San Antonio at Portland on Thursday, April 30 (time and network TBD)*Game 7: Portland at San Antonio on Saturday, May 2 (time and network TBD)*if necessaryEverything to know for the NBA playoffs: Predictions, series previews, X-factorsSeries odds(Via BetMGM)San Antonio Spurs (-2500)Portland Trail Blazers (+1000)What we know about the SpursThey’re arguably the NBA’s most balanced team — third in offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency, according to Cleaning the Glass, joining the Celtics as the only teams in the top five on both ends of the floor. They’re also the league’s hottest squad, going a scorching 30-4 and outscoring opponents by nearly 15 points per 100 possessions since the start of February.Everything starts with Victor Wembanyama, the 22-year-old world-breaker whose ascent returned San Antonio to the ranks of the league’s elite.After missing the final two months of the 2024-25 season following the discovery of a blood clot in his right shoulder, Wembanyama returned with his sights set on establishing himself as one of the NBA’s most dominant forces.

The 7-foot-4 (allegedly) center did just that, averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, a league-leading 3.1 blocks and 1 steal in 29.2 minutes per game. He traded in some of his more speculative 3s for more physical play in the paint; he smothered even more of the half-court on defense; he bent the game around him, cementing his standing as not only a lock for Defensive Player of the Year and All-NBA First Team, but a likely top-three finish in MVP voting.What makes the Spurs so dangerous, though, is that while their dominance starts with Wembanyama, it doesn’t end there.De’Aaron Fox provided exactly the high-level No. 2 scorer and primary ball-handler the Spurs hoped he’d be when they traded for and re-signed him, smoothly shifting between focal point and complement while turning in arguably the best two-way play of his career.

Stephon Castle built on his Rookie of the Year campaign by becoming a better scorer and two-way playmaker — one of just nine players in the league this season to average at least 16 points and seven dimes per game, a list replete with All-Stars. Dylan Harper, the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, immediately got into the lane like a 10-year vet and smashed through the rookie wall, averaging just under 13-4-4 in 24 minutes per game on 57/40/78 shooting splits over the final three months.With Wembanyama at the center of the frame, the three-headed backcourt monster constantly pounding the paint and pushing the pace, and everyone from Julian Champagnie to Luke Kornet starring in their roles, everything fell into place in San Antonio.

The overall record and underlying metrics say the Spurs have been the NBA’s second-best team, behind only the defending champion Thunder. But good luck telling the Spurs — who, y’know, beat Oklahoma City fourtimesthisseason — that they’re second to anybody.What we know about the Trail BlazersAfter several meandering seasons, Splitter — who took the reins in Portland after Chauncey Billups was arrested and indicted as part of a federal investigation into illegal gambling — got the Blazers back to the playoffs on the strength of a simple yet effective identity: Give Deni Avdija the ball, get out of the way and get back on defense.The offensive leap that began in the relative anonymity of Washington hit a new level, as Avdija averaged career highs in scoring and facilitating en route to his first All-Star selection.

The only other players to average as many points, rebounds and assists per game as Avdija this season were Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić … which is, y’know, pretty decent company.The Blazers needed Avdija to shoulder a monster offensive workload due to a rolling raft of injuries on the perimeter. Returning hero Damian Lillard hasn’t suited up — outside of All-Star Weekend, anyway — as he rehabilitates a ruptured Achilles tendon. A right calf