Victor Wembanyama scored 35 points in his playoff debut and the San Antonio Spurs rolled to a 111-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series Sunday night.Wembanyamas 21 first-half points set an NBA record for the most in the opening half of an NBA playoff debut since the leagues play-by-play era began in 1997.His 35 total points set a Spurs franchise record for the most in a playoff debut, surpassing Tim Duncans 32 in 1998.Stephon Castle and DeAaron Fox each added 17 points and combined for 15 assists for San Antonio.Deni Avdija had 30 points and 10 rebounds to lead Portland, which beat Phoenix 114-110 in Tuesdays play-in game to earn the No. 7 seed.Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft behind Wembanyama and Charlottes Brandon Miller, added 18 points.Game 2 is Tuesday night in San Antonio before the series heads to Portland for Games 3 and 4.Storylines heading into First RoundWembanyama and most of his San Antonio teammates made their NBA playoff debut Sunday night.Much has been made of the lack of playoff experience on San Antonios youthful roster, but the Spurs actually have a ton of postseason knowledge to lean on.It comes in the form of postseason appearances by veteran players like Fox, Harrison Barnes, Luke Kornet, Bismack Biyombo and Kelly Olynyk, and staff like associate head coach Sean Sweeney and assistants Corliss Williamson and Rashard Lewis.But the greatest source of information and inspiration comes from the franchises iconic leader, Gregg Popovich.A fixture at the Spurs practice facility while he continues to rehabilitate from a stroke suffered Nov. 2, 2024, Popovich addressed the team earlier this week.(Popovich said) just to be us, not to really do anything different from what weve been doing all season, Castle said. He gave us another perspective on how well weve been playing and the position weve put ourselves in.Sound advice for a team that finished with the leagues second-best record at 62-20 and won the Southwest Division for the first time since 2017.Still, no amount of advice can replace action, but the Spurs are eager for their first playoff series since 2019.Deni Avdija had 41 points and 12 assists as the Trail Blazers rallied to beat the Phoenix Suns 114-110 on Tuesday to earn the seventh seed.San Antonio veteran Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie are in the postseason for the first time after playing through all or most of six seasons of futility.Me and KJ are super excited, said Vassell, who is in his fifth season. Weve been talking about it over and over, even were talking about it this morning. Its just good to be in this position, not only just for us, but for the community and for the fans thats been here and kind of waiting. Its been a long time, overdue, but were here and ready to go.Wembanyama (22), Castle (21), Champagnie (24) and Vassell (25), Dylan Harper (20) and Carter Bryant (20) lead an energetic and athletic roster that finished third in both offensive and defensive efficiency.I dont think there is anything as far as in the basketball realm that I think were nervous about, Fox said. Obviously, people talk about experience and all those things, whatever it may be, weve to go out there and play basketball and I think we have an extremely good basketball team.Welcome BackPortland coach Tiago Splitter played five seasons in San Antonio beginning in 2010, including being a key reserve on the Spurs 2014 championship team.>> Former Spur Tiago Splitter to face San Antonio in 2026 NBA PlayoffsSplitter, Manu Ginobili, Boris Diaw and Patty Mills established the teams Coffee Gang, primarily made of Spurs reserves who spent a lot of time on the road drinking coffee and having lunch together.As deep as their friendships are, Splitter knows those bonds only go so far when it comes to who Ginobili and Diaw will cheer for in this series.I think there is a romantic feeling about it, but thats it, Splitter told reporters. Manu is Spurs for sure. Boris, well see. I got to invite him for a couple glasses of wine.On a RunSan Antonio is 10-0 at home against Portland in the postseason, including arguably the most impactful victory in franchise history.The Spurs exorcised a history of postseason futility with what is now known as the Memorial Day Miracle in Game 2 of the 1999 Western Conference Finals on May 31 at the Alamodome.>> Start of a dynasty: Looking back at the Spurs 1999 NBA championship runAfter trailing by 18 points, San Antonio rallied to win on Sean Elliotts 3-pointer. Elliott tiptoed the sideline, spinning on his toes and keeping his heels elevated to avoid stepping out of bounds to drain a 3-pointer that proved to be the game-winning shot.San Antonio went on to sweep the series and win its first of five NBA championships.Turnover PronePortland averaged 17.3 turnovers while committing 1,417, the most in the league this season.All GoodSan Antonio coach Mitch Johnson became a little superstitious when reminded that the Spurs enter the postseason healthy after battling minor injuries in the final weeks of the season.Ive got to, Johnson said, rapping a knuckle to his forehead because there was no wood within arms reach to knock on.Wembanyama missed three of the teams final seven games after suffering a left rib contusion during the first half of San Antonios 115-102 victory over Philadelphia on April 6.Castle missed two of the final three games with right knee and left foot soreness.Harper injured his left thumb and did not play in the fourth quarter of a 128-118 loss to Denver in its regular-season finale on April 12.All three will play in the series opener Sunday.Top SecretWembanyama did not play against Portland this season, battling ankle and rib injuries as San Antonio won the season series 2-1.Considering the Trail Blazers have not seen Wembanyama during the best of his three seasons in the NBA, the Frenchman was jokingly asked if he could be the Spurs secret weapon in this series.The best kept secret, Wembanyama said, laughing afterward.WATCH: Race for Seis A KSAT Sports Now SpecialAP Sports Writer Raul Dominguez contributed to this report.Read more of KSATs Race for Seis coverage:Victor Wembanyama eager for first playoff test as Spurs open prep against PortlandNBA playoff odds show Spurs as No. 2 favorite to take home titleSpurs playoff return coincides with Fiesta, igniting San Antonio spiritSpurs superfans bridge generations as playoff energy builds in San AntonioNBA announces tipoff times, TV networks for first 4 Spurs-Trail Blazers playoff games