NBA Basketball

2026-04-19 - Portland Trail Blazers at San Antonio Spurs

A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown

Portland Trail Blazers @ San Antonio Spurs
United States : NBA Basketball Playoffs First Round Game 1
Sunday 19th April 2026 - Scheduled 8:30pm EST
1:30am (British Time)

Preview

Gregg Popovich had considerable successes during his long tenure as Head Coach of the San Antonio Spurs, but he stepped down from the role at the end of last season. That came after the sixth consecutive year of missing the NBA Playoffs, but the Spurs look like they are not only back, but capable of winning a NBA Championship as soon as June 2026.

It has been a remarkable leap in performance from the Spurs who have been able to bring in Victor Wembanyama to become the face of the franchise.

One of the only concerns around Wembanyama is his durability with the last couple of years seeing him miss plenty of regular season games, but the All-Star has improved his numbers in each of the last two seasons since his rookie season.

Wemby is looking healthy going into his first Playoffs and the San Antonio Spurs have to be credited for the manner in which they have built the roster around him. They have come on leaps and bounds this season and San Antonio fans will only have to listen to their best player to know how well the Number 2 Seed have competed with the defending Champions Oklahoma City Thunder throughout this season.

Looking too far ahead would be a mistake considering the Spurs have landed in the tougher side of the Western Conference bracket, but they will be largely happy with the First Round Series against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Much like the Spurs, the Trail Blazers are developing the roster in the right way and that means needing some patience and allowing players to build up their experience- beating the Phoenix Suns earned the Portland Trail Blazers the Number 7 Seed through the Play In Tournament and this First Round Series will certainly help in the development of the roster going forward.

It is a tough match up against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Trail Blazers lost two of the three regular season games and that was without San Antonio being at full strength and it may be tough for this young group to compete with the qualities of the Number 2 Seed.

The challenge for Portland is to try and pick up the Defensive intensity and see if they can at least create nerves within this Series, but there are two games to open on the road and Portland will have to steal away Home Court if they are going threaten an upset. It is a big ask for the Trail Blazers considering the form in which the San Antonio Spurs finished the regular season, especially as the Spurs have been a real powerhouse on the Defensive side of the court.

There is a lot to like about some of the younger players on the Portland roster, but finding a consistent scorer in this Series may be the obstacle between them and an upset.

San Antonio are another double digit favourite, but this is a game in which the lean is with the 'under' of the total points line set.

Both teams could be focusing on making sure they scheme up on the Defensive side of the court and all three regular season meetings finished below the total that was set on the night. The double digit spread is right on an awkward mark when you think the Spurs won by 13 points and 11 points in those two regular season victories.

The Spurs are more likely to cover seeing as Victor Wembanyama had limited time on the court against the Portland Trail Blazers and is a difference maker, but backing the under looks the play in Game 1.

Over the last six seasons, the under has been the play in Game 1 of the First Round Series and that looks the right play here.

Prediction

This is another big home favourite who could have enough to cover the line set, but the better play in this First Round Series Game 1 may be backing the under.