Following an exhilarating recreation towards Giannis and the Bucks, the San Antonio Spurs performed one other nail-biter in a hard-fought loss to Cleveland. Regardless that each contests resulted in defeat, San Antonio’s effort was terrific and their general play has been a lot improved.
The Spurs shot out of a cannon to begin the sport. They constructed a double-digit lead simply mere minutes into the primary quarter as Devin Vassell continued his scorching streak by hitting a number of robust threes. On the opposite finish, Cleveland created many nice seems by means of pinpoint passing however missed most of them. Nevertheless, the Cavs managed to shut the lead after Caris Levert hit back-to-back threes on the finish of the primary.
Sadly for the Spurs, Cleveland quickly started changing their photographs whereas persevering with to generate high-percentage probabilities. Jarrett Allen, particularly, was the beneficiary of some give-and-go performs that resulted in open dunks, and even former ESPN analyst Tristan Thompson made just a few easy baskets off of the Cavs’ ball motion. On the intense facet, San Antonio’s protection wasn’t unhealthy: it was merely a matter of Cleveland making photographs as a result of their synergistic offense.
Even so, the Spurs managed to maintain it shut. They went down by 9 early within the fourth however rapidly made it a one-possession contest when Tre Jones and Cedi Osman mixed to attain seven quick factors. The Cavs then answered by capitalizing on just a few San Antonio turnovers and hitting a few threes, and the sport seemed to be out of attain when Cleveland went up by 14.
That was when the chaos ensued.
With Wemby closing, the Spurs went on a 14-2 run and have been one basket away from both successful or forcing time beyond regulation. San Antonio had an awesome likelihood to do both with 15 seconds remaining, however alas, it wasn’t meant to be.
Even after Cleveland regained possession, the Spurs nonetheless received one last shot off as a result of a clutch block from the French phenom.
It’s disappointing that San Antonio wasn’t in a position to win both of their final two video games, however the degree of battle that they’ve proven is spectacular. There’s little doubt that the wins will come because the group features extra expertise.
Recreation notes
Dumb errors price San Antonio the sport. The buzzer-beating three that Levert hit on the finish of the primary quarter got here off an errant inbounds cross from the Spurs after he had simply made a triple in what ought to’ve been Cleveland’s last shot of the quarter. The final play of the sport was irritating too since quite a few eventualities might’ve occurred as an alternative: Wemby or Sochan going for the layup or Keldon trying a 3 if a greater cross was made. There have been additionally numerous turnovers so unhealthy that the published was nonetheless exhibiting replays of the earlier possession when the ball was already going by means of the Spurs’ basket.
Wemby completed the sport with 24 factors, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks and have become simply the fifth participant in league historical past to place up such a line whereas enjoying beneath 25 minutes in a recreation. Impressively, he began fairly sluggish and solely had seven factors at halftime, which simply reveals how rapidly he’s in a position to rack up ridiculous numbers.
Allen dominated and had 29 factors and 16 rebounds. He scored lots of his factors on wide-open dunks or semi-contested layups off of Cleveland’s lovely ball motion, so Wemby isn’t at fault for Allen’s massive offensive recreation. Nevertheless, it did seem to be the Spurs have been hesitant to problem him on the rim on just a few possessions, which is probably going why Sochan determined to cross as an alternative of go for the layup. (Is that this how different groups really feel after they face Wemby?)
Regardless that that final possession was botched, I used to be nonetheless impressed by Wemby’s cross to Sochan. With 20/20 hindsight, it’s simple to say that he made the improper selection, however Sochan clearly had a greater have a look at the rim and I’m positive Wemby anticipated him to put it in. Even so, I believe the rookie would profit by being extra egocentric at occasions, particularly when he had a mismatch with Allen nonetheless hustling again to the rim. Nonetheless, it will be unfair to say that there was one definitive play that ought to’ve been made on that possession: would we nonetheless be debating this if the Spurs scored, no matter the way it occurred?
Vassell continues to wow along with his shotmaking. The 23-year-old guard ended with 22 factors and three steals on 9/19 taking pictures from the sphere and 4/9 from three. Extra impressively, none of his photographs are wide-open since opponents know that he’s San Antonio’s most harmful perimeter creator. The stats again it up too:
The underside 5 guards in 3PT Shot High quality
1. Devin Vassell2. Luka Doncic3. Tyrese Maxey4. Spencer Dinwiddie5. Devin Booker
Their photographs are the hardest from 3
— BBall Index (@The_BBall_Index) January 6, 2024
Play of the sport
The block. The cross. The shot. Get able to see this for the following 10 years, Spurs followers.
Subsequent recreation: Wednesday at Detroit
It’s the showdown between two traditionally unhealthy groups! I virtually want that they have been nonetheless mired in these embarrassing dropping streaks so as to add to the comedic storyline.
