The Spurs got here into Saturday’s matchup using two-game profitable streak after blowing out the Charlotte Hornets the evening earlier than, however they had been short-handed with out Victor Wembanyama, Zach Collins and Doug McDermott. The opponent was a Chicago Bulls crew that was additionally on a SEGABABA however had the benefit of being absolutely wholesome. After a tough offensive begin, the Spurs rode a career-high 30 factors from Tre Jones, 22 of which got here within the first half to maintain issues from getting out of hand, and regardless of getting down by as a lot as 18 within the third quarter, they managed to rally all the best way again and retake the lead earlier than working out of gasoline, falling 116-122.
Billy Donovan was not joyful along with his crew’s transition protection to begin the sport, as Jones hit two uncontested threes early and located Dominick Barlow, who obtained the beginning instead of Wemby, for a wide-open lob, forcing a Bulls timeout with the Spurs up 11-10. They responded by tightening up on protection, and everybody apart from Jones struggled to attain for the Spurs as they abruptly discovered themselves down 11 whereas the Chicago hit 5 of their first six threes. Unable to penetrate the Bulls protection, the Spurs discovered themselves down 35-23 after the primary quarter.
Johnson and Osman hit a few threes to begin the second quarter, however in any other case the Spurs nonetheless couldn’t cease the Bulls’ red-hot capturing on the opposite finish. They obtained up by as a lot as 14, however Jones continued to have the perfect recreation of his profession to maintain issues manageable. He ended the half with 22 factors on 7-7 capturing (together with a career-high 4-4 from three), and as soon as the Bulls lastly began cooling off on offense, the Spurs had been in a position to make a run. Threes from Malaki Branham, Julian Champagnie and Devin Vassell helped them get as shut as 4 earlier than a buzzer beater by Ayo Dosunmo put the Bulls up 63-55 at halftime.
Jeremy Sochan scored six factors to begin third quarter (plus drawing a technical on Alex Caruso), getting the Spurs inside three, however the Bulls responded with an 8-0 run to get again up by 11, forcing a timeout from Gregg Popovich. The run stretched out to 13-0 earlier than the Spurs managed to get some free throws, however abruptly keen three-point shooter DeMar DeRozan dropped a pair from the nook in opposition to his previous crew to get the lead out to 18 halfway by means of the quarter. Nonetheless, the Spurs stored preventing and led by the vitality of Blake Wesley, tied issues up at 94 all on a Johnson three heading into the fourth quarter. Wild because it was to get there, this marked the fifth straight recreation the Spurs received the third quarter after it had been an issue all season.
The Spurs scored the primary 4 factors of the fourth, and Johnson, who was the person of the second half with 19 of his 26 factors, continued to be on a heater from three. One other three from Cedi Osman obtained the lead as much as 8 earlier than the Bulls fought again. Caruso was a pest on protection and hit a 3 to get them again inside one earlier than Zach LaVine retook the lead on a couple of free throws by plowing his manner into defenders to drive calls. By this time each groups regarded fairly exhausted and couldn’t hit any discipline objectives, and the rating sat at 113-115 Bulls for a number of minutes earlier than Coby White free throws made it 117-113 with below two minutes to go earlier than Johnson lastly broke the ice with a driving dunk. Vassell had an opportunity to tie issues again up however missed a free throw, and a Nikola Vucivic three with 30 seconds left sealed the deal, ending the Spurs’ profitable streak.
Recreation Notes
It was an particularly powerful evening for Vassell, who completed with simply 5 factors on 1-13 capturing, together with 1-8 from three. Even an okay recreation from him most likely would have sealed issues for the Spurs. It’s most likely secure to say Wemby has handed him because the 1a on the crew, and that’s completely fantastic and never wholly sudden, however as 1b, he wants to search out extra consistency, particularly on the nights Wemby sits. (And, eyes rolling, there shall be no less than yet another subsequent Saturday.) If it weren’t Jones’ profession evening and a giant efficiency from Johnson, Vassell’s dangerous evening would have stood out much more.
With out Wemby and Zach Collins, this was one other likelihood for Sandro Mamukelashvili to make a case for himself. He had a tough first half as he was hesitant to shoot out of place on protection within the first half, to the purpose that Pop determined to endure a couple of minutes of Sochan being within the unwinnable place of enjoying backup middle in opposition to Andre Drummond. He appeared to have gotten the message and was a lot better within the second half, searching for his shot and being a pest on protection. Nonetheless, Barlow appears to cemented the third string middle spot when he’s with the crew.
Pop talked about after the Charlotte recreation that Wemby wouldn’t play tonight or subsequent weekend’s back-to-back however must be reevaluated after that. I’ve by no means been one to query Pop or the Spurs’ medical employees, but when his authentic scan confirmed one thing so severe that he needs to be on a minutes restriction and no back-to-backs for over a month, no strings hooked up, would he have been higher off skipping a couple of extra video games to heal sooner? It’s a type of circumstances the place the Spurs retaining issues tight to the vest hasn’t labored of their favor (a prognosis was by no means really revealed), and Wemby has mentioned he’s ache free regarded so spry the final couple of weeks that it begs the query, why wait to reevaluate? Clearly they’re simply searching for his well-being, however the higher he appears, the more durable it’s to simply “settle for”.
Play of the Recreation
It was his solely discipline purpose of the evening, however Wesley’s posterization of White was an enormous a part of the Spurs’ late third quarter push to tie issues again up, and it’s the kind of play followers need to see extra of from him.
Up Subsequent: Monday at Atlanta Hawks
This Spurs will head to Atlanta try to get revenge in opposition to Dejounte Murray and the Hawks. It will likely be an early tip-off by weekday requirements in Atlanta due to Martin Luther King Day at 2:30 PM CT on TNT.
