Spurs Win in Team Effort Led by Fox Against Portland

De'Aaron Fox scored 25 points as the shorthanded San Antonio Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers, with six Spurs in double figures and the reserves outscoring Portland's bench 48-10.

The Spurs played without Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle and used balanced contributions to beat the Portland Trail Blazers. De'Aaron Fox led the way and several role players stepped up on both ends. Bench players and rookies provided scoring and defensive energy. The win is one of the franchise's best single-season totals. Key facts: - De'Aaron Fox scored 25 points with 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals, shooting 50% overall and 50% from three. - Six Spurs reached double-figure scoring in the game. - San Antonio's bench outscored Portland's bench 48-10. - Carter Bryant had a career-high 17 points, 4 assists and 5 rebounds, making 5 of 6 three-point attempts. - Luke Kornet started in place of Victor Wembanyama and finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and a block. - The victory was the Spurs' 61st of the season, the fourth-most in franchise history, and the team is almost certainly the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Summary: The Spurs covered for absent starters with a collective performance that combined veteran stability and rookie energy. The win keeps San Antonio in position for a top seed and could set up a first-round meeting with Portland. The team has two home games left, Friday against the Mavericks and Sunday against the Nuggets, and Victor Wembanyama is expected to appear in at least one game to meet awards qualifying criteria.