PORTLAND, Ore. – Devin Vassell entered Moda Center content to let the game come to him.
When it finally did, he capitalized in a big way.
Vassell scored nine of his 11 points in the third quarter on 4 of 6 from the field, helping trigger the Spurs’ 73-point second half explosion that bagged them a 114-93 victory over Portland on Sunday in Game 4 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series.
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“Just being patient, not forcing anything,” Vassell said of his approach. “We have a lot of great players and sometimes the ball just doesn’t come your way. So just being ready whenever the ball is swung my way and just being ultra aggressive after I get it.”
The Spurs can wrap up the seven-game series with a win at home Tuesday night after they set a franchise playoff record for points after halftime.
The Spurs outscored the Trail Blazers 33-16 in the third after trailing by 17 at halftime and by 19 in the second quarter. Vassell gave the Spurs their first lead since they were up by a point late in the first period when he sank an 18-foot jumper to make it 64-62 with 4:05 left in the period.
That basket came 33 seconds after Vassell tied the game at 62-62 on a 14-foot turnaround jumper. His other points in the third came on a 3-pointer and a driving dunk.
In 10 minutes in the third, he also had four rebounds, one assist, one block and was a plus-16. For the game, he finished with six boards and three assists. In his 35 minutes, he also had a steal.
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“We’ve been talking about Devin for a few months now and it’s interesting because some of these games feel like he has such influence, but his stat line or his box isn’t always as monstrous as we’ve known before with 32 points or this and that,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “Tonight, he had 11 points and six rebounds, and we needed every one of them.
“He’s just become a staple for us in terms of maturity and as a stabilizing force on the court. And he is someone I start to cling to just when it feels like we need a level of consistency, and he’s provided that in a lot of different ways for us.”
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama agreed.
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) stands on the court during the third quarter of Game 4 of a first-round NBA playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on Sunday, April 26, 2026. The Spurs won 114-93, leading the series 3-1. (Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News)
“He’s having a lot of impact on both sides of the court,” Wembanyama said. “He’s just been so on point, especially finishing, on both sides. He jumps so high on every rebound. He’s just been a great finisher.”
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Vassell said the coaching staff throughout the season stressed the need for him to hit the boards.
“Getting on the glass has been a point of emphasis and just being able to contribute in any way to win the game,” he said. “That’s how I’ve been trying to play the game.”
Game 4 wasn’t the only time in the series Vassell has enjoyed a big third period. In the Spurs’ 111-98 win in Game 1 on April 19 at the Frost Bank Center, he scored eight of his 15 points in the period to help prevent the Blazers from taking control of a game that was still up for grabs. In nine minutes, he also recorded back-to-back blocks in a 17-second span that underscored his ability to get the job done on both ends of the court.
“It’s his leadership and his constant aggressiveness,” Spurs guard Stephon Castle said in pointing to why Vassell has thrived coming out of halftime.
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Castle said Vassell “hunting shots throughout the game” opens up driving lanes for him and the team’s other downhill guards, De’Aaron Fox and rookie Dylan Harper.
“He’s a big emphasis on their (scouting report), so most of the time that we’re driving, they’re staying home on him,” Castle said. “But anytime he can be aggressive and get himself going, he will. And it’s always a plus for us.”
Castle finished the game as the Spurs’ fourth leading scorer behind Fox (28), Wembanyama (27) and Castle (16). He said he’s enjoying his role as a complimentary piece in the starting lineup.
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) goes up for a shot during the third quarter of Game 4 of a first-round NBA playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News)
“It just goes to show how deep of a team we are,” Vassell said. “Vic had a monster game the first game (with 35 points). Steph (with 33) and Dylan (with 27) had monster games in the third game. And then Fox and Vic today. We’ve talked about it all year. It doesn’t really matter whose game it is, as long as everybody’s contributing to winning. That’s really all we’re worried about. There’s going to be a game where I have the game or Julian (Champagnie) has the game or Dylan has a game. It really doesn’t matter.
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“As long as we’re all playing the right way and winning, that’s all that matters.”
This article originally published at Devin Vassell’s patient approach pays off with another big third quarter performance for Spurs.