Game Thread 2026 NBA PLAYOFFS RND 1 - GAME #1 - BLAZERS @ SPURS - APRIL 19, 2026 - SUNDAY - 6:00 PM - NBC - PEACOCK (30 Viewers)

[PDXFonz]

the nutty Yang fantasies just won't die

You mean like the one where we forced him to underperform in the G-League so that we can unveil him as the secret weapon against Wembanyama?

 

[Cugel]

Yang shouldnt even be in the arena.

I agree, don't even bother with DC on VW. Simply not mobile enough. "Hold" VW to his average and you did a good job. Mostly worried about Deni thinking he can just drive in the paint and get layups with VW around the rim. Dispel all notions of that. If POR can shoot a decent clip from 3, the game will be interesting. I wont be shocked if VW has 10 blocks, however.

 

[Domihatin]

Bro, you just dont say this stuff. Knockin on wood dont work for us. This is a bannable offense to talk about the “I” word in the playoffs!!!

Knocking on wood works for some. Ask Dwight Howard!

 

[Domihatin]

You mean like the one where we forced him to underperform in the G-League so that we can unveil him as the secret weapon against Wembanyama?

He underperformed in the G-League?

 

[wizenheimer]

That was fun

IIRC, the Blazers were down 10 in the 4thQ with about 4-5 minutes left, came back and tied it in regulation, and won in OT

 

[BBert]

You mean like the one where we forced him to underperform in the G-League so that we can unveil him as the secret weapon against Wembanyama?

Sssshhhh

 

[RR7]

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

I hope, somehow, that the Blazers take the series and all the pundits who are looking at the Spurs "next" opponent are forced to eat it.

I hope their next opponent happens in next-season's pre-season.

 

[blazerkor]

I hope, somehow, that the Blazers take the series and all the pundits who are looking at the Spurs "next" opponent are forced to eat it.

I hope their next opponent happens in next-season's pre-season.

I think now that we're into the playoffs all of us hope for the unlikely outcome of us beating the Spurs four times to keep this season going. Hell, I think all of us hope our team does the seemingly impossible and finds a way to get 16 wins and a championship.

 

[RR7]

I also just like one of the new owners having a little fun on Twitter. He'll definitely be the "face" of the team here locally.

 

[wizenheimer]

I'd imagine if the Blazers 'steal' one of the first 2 games it will be tonight. All the pressure is on the Spurs

 

[blazerfan11]

I think now that we're into the playoffs all of us hope for the unlikely outcome of us beating the Spurs four times to keep this season going. Hell, I think all of us hope our team does the seemingly impossible and finds a way to get 16 wins and a championship.

Whatever happens, I hope they can all stay healthy, and we can see where we stand.

Detroit lost their 1st-round draft pick last season the same way the Blazers did, but maybe being in the playoffs against the Knicks (2-4 loss) helped them re-tool for the 2025-26 season.
They let a couple guys go, and got Duncan Robinson (3-point shooting/floor spacing) in a sign-and-trade deal.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I'd imagine if the Blazers 'steal' one of the first 2 games it will be tonight. All the pressure is on the Spurs

I agree.

However, I guess it is possible that if they blow us out today, they may get overconfident in game two.

 

[blazerfan11]

I also just like one of the new owners having a little fun on Twitter. He'll definitely be the "face" of the team here locally.

I love what I'm seeing with Sheel Tyle. Next month he's headed to Japan to talk to a couple airlines about getting service to Portland again.

In May, Tyle and his wife are traveling to Japan, where he is meeting with a collection of Japanese dignitaries, as well as the heads of two Japanese airlines. He wants to restart nonstop flights between Tokyo and Portland.
“One of my goals is to have the Blazers be Asia’s team,” Tyle said.
His desire to expand Portland’s reach is fueled by a belief that Portland is worthy. He says that’s why he named the group’s purchasing entity Rip City Rising, a nod to his mission of making his investment about more than basketball.
He believes the Blazers can be the hub to a vibrant civic environment while also helping Portland ascend into a world-class attraction.
“We didn’t call the group Rip City Stabilizing, or Rip City Reminiscing — we called it Rip City Rising because the Trail Blazers can and should be a small part of the state’s resurgence to greater heights,” Tyle said. “I don’t want the story to be ‘Portland has a homeless issue, a drug problem, the economy stinks … let’s leave.’ The opposite should be true. I love this place. We are rising, this is a city on the ascent.”
That optimism, that enthusiasm, and that vision are why Lillard says he believes the Blazers are getting something special with Tyle. Few players have been embraced by fans in Portland like Lillard, he knows what the fan base values. They want dedicated work, transparency and a passion that Portland can be better. They want to feel a part of the Blazers, and the people running it.
“You know, it’s one thing to have a player who is one of you, and to even have a coach who is one of you,” Lillard said. “But to have an owner that’s one of us? That’s a different thing. And he is that.

 

[blazerkor]

Well at least the Suns are making it a game with the Thunder...

 

[riverman]

Game one is the game to steal! Go Blazers! May the 3pt shot be swishin'!!!!

 

[blazerfan11]

Game one is the game to steal! Go Blazers! May the 3pt shot be swishin'!!!!

Or they could lose the first two games, then go 4-0 like the championship team did in the finals.

They lost game 2 worse than they lost game 1, by 18 points (which is like 28 points in today's NBA).

Probably looked pretty bleak at that point.

 

[Everything Beagle]

(I notice Lillard technically isn’t ineligible for the playoffs…)

 

[blazerfan11]

(I notice Lillard technically isn’t ineligible for the playoffs…)

Yes, Damian Lillard is technically eligible to play in the 2026 NBA playoffs if the Portland Trail Blazers choose to activate him.

 

[Cugel]

Suns were totally destroyed. I hope POR can avoid such a blowout. I dunno …

 

[wizenheimer]

Or they could lose the first two games, then go 4-0 like the championship team did in the finals.

They lost game 2 worse than they lost game 1, by 18 points (which is like 28 points in today's NBA).

Probably looked pretty bleak at that point.

View attachment 84171

not really close to the same situation

going into those two games in Philly, Portland was 10-3 in the playoffs while coming off a 4 game sweep of the favored Lakers who had posted the best record in the NBA. They had also won all 7 playoff games at home. They had lots of reasons for confidence when they returned to Portland. They actually had a playoff resume after 15 playoff games

 

[Everything Beagle]

not really close to the same situation

going into those two games in Philly, Portland was 10-3 in the playoffs while coming off a 4 game sweep of the favored Lakers who had posted the best record in the NBA. They had also won all 7 playoff games at home. They had lots of reasons for confidence when they returned to Portland. They actually had a playoff resume after 15 playoff games

Look our record in the playoffs this year is the same as San Antonio’s, as was last year’s and the year before that as I recall.

 

[Irish Trader]

Still bites my ass how close we were to victor Wembanyamania in 2023 draft. That was such a tease and the Spurs once again luck out. Can you imagine if we actually had got him in the draft. Blazer heaven.

 

[crandc]

I'm getting nervous.

 

[blazerfan11]

not really close to the same situation

going into those two games in Philly, Portland was 10-3 in the playoffs while coming off a 4 game sweep of the favored Lakers who had posted the best record in the NBA. They had also won all 7 playoff games at home. They had lots of reasons for confidence when they returned to Portland. They actually had a playoff resume after 15 playoff games

The Blazers had two sweeps in the Play-In. 2-0. One at home, one on the road.

 

[blazerfan11]

I'm getting nervous.

To me, game 1 is like the first quarter. No game was won in the first quarter, and no best-of-7 series was won after one game.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

GO BLAZERS! RIP CITY!

 

[BBert]

Detroit has been throwing up bricks. Finally over. Time for the main event!

 

[BBert]

We'd beat both of those teams.

 

[Irish Trader]

We are 12 1/2 point underdogs