SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Keldon Johnson and Malaki Branham had 17 points each and the San Antonio Spurs beat Portland 118-105 Thursday night in their fourth game without coach Gregg Popovich.

Popovich has been out since suffering a medical episode Saturday before a home game against Minnesota. Before Thursday’s game, Spurs interim head coach Mitch Johnson said the team didn’t know when Popovich would return.

Zach Collins and Julian Champagnie added 14 points each to help the Spurs end a two-game skid. Victor Wembanyama had 12 points. Branham exited two minutes into the fourth quarter after rolling his right ankle.

Deandre Ayton had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Portland. Jerami Grant also had 21 points and Anfernee Simons added 19.

Takeaways

Trail Blazers: Portland was 9 of 32 from 3-point range. Simons was 3-for-9 from 3, but the rest of the starting lineup was 3-for-12.

Spurs: San Antonio has struggled to find a consistent second scoring option behind Wembanyama, but that should change with the return of Devin Vassell. Vassell missed the first nine games following offseason surgery due to a stress reaction to the third metatarsal head in his right foot.

Key moment

With Portland trailing 64-62, San Antonio was able to extend the lead to four points thanks to a Branham three-pointer and an off-the-ball foul on Grant that Wembanyama converted into a free throw. The play gave the Spurs a 68-62 lead.

Key statistic

Substitutes Branham, Johnson, Collins and Blake Wesley totaled 58 points. With team depth dwindling with injuries to Jeremy Sochan, Tre Jones, Vassell and now Branham, the Spurs have needed greater contributions from more of their reserves.

To be continued

Portland is at Minnesota on Friday night. The Spurs host Utah on Saturday.

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