The San Antonio Spurs have gotten right into a behavior of taking place massive within the first half, and combating to claw their means out of the opening within the second. They let the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks construct 20+ level leads of their final two contests. That pattern continued in a 117-98 loss to the Boston Celtics, during which the Spurs trailed by 30-points at one level.
“It was very like the Atlanta sport, they got here out on hearth, we couldn’t make pictures,” mentioned Spurs head coach, Gregg Popovich. “They’re younger, that occurs every so often. Within the second half, I believe we outscored them.”
The sport began pretty aggressive. Boston is the most effective three-point capturing group within the league, and confirmed it early and sometimes. They hit 5 of their ten first quarter threes, hitting some troublesome pictures alongside the best way. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been glorious at creating their very own shot even with a Spurs draped throughout them. They completed the sport with 24 and 21 factors respectively.
Victor Wembanyama picked up the place he left off in Atlanta with a sizzling first quarter. He began the sport with 10 factors, together with a lob on a candy set from Popovich and a pair of threes. The rookie confronted some stiff protection from Al Horford and typically a second defender, however nonetheless managed to complete the sport with 27 factors and 5 rebounds.
The second quarter is when the wheels got here off. The Celtics received crimson sizzling from deep, capturing 8-9 from three within the second quarter. Jrue Vacation hit three after three as Boston jumped out to an enormous lead. The purpose guard completed the sport with 22 factors and hit 6 of his 7 three level makes an attempt. San Antonio couldn’t discover constant offense and fell behind considerably. They have been outscored 40-20 within the second quarter, and easily couldn’t overcome that deficit.
It wasn’t for a scarcity of making an attempt. As soon as once more the recipe for fulfillment within the third quarter was taking part in in transition, and getting the ball within the fingers of their aggressive scorers. Tre Jones orchestrated a run within the third quarter that received the Spurs inside 15 factors along with his passing and skill to push the tempo. The purpose guard completed with 9 factors and 10 assists. Devin Vassell lastly was in a position to shake free agains Boston’s protection, attending to the rim at the next price than within the first half. Vassell completed the sport with 21 factors and received to the free throw line eight occasions.
“We are attempting to get him to protection himself into the sport, not jumpshot himself into the sport,” Popovich mentioned of Vassell’s video games. “When he was driving it within the second half – that was a very good signal. He’s carried out that earlier than to get himself again within the ball sport. Then pictures begin to fall.”
Regardless of going into the fourth quarter down simply 16 factors, the Spurs couldn’t sustain the momentum, because the Celtics began to warmth up from three but once more. Earlier than the halfway level of the half, the subs have been put in on either side, and coach Popovich was already serious about what to have for dinner (as he mentioned within the press convention.) Boston completed the sport capturing 47.4% from deep. San Antonio outscored the C’s within the paint 58-42, however couldn’t cease their perimeter assault. They’ll want a extra even effort as they hit the street for a rematch with the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.
Recreation notes
It was one other tough sport for Keldon Johnson who couldn’t get a lot of something to go. The wing has 5 factors on simply 2-4 capturing from the sphere. Johnson has been a breath of recent air off the Spurs bench, however has struggled to seek out his rhythm late in video games within the final two contests.
Dominick Barlow was stable off the bench with 5 factors and 4 rebounds. He hit a 3 from the proper nook for his second NBA triple. If he’s hitting deep pictures, that reinforces his already thrilling offensive potential. Popovich praised his power off the bench whereas submitting in for Zach Collins and Charles Bassey. With Collins slated to return within the subsequent few weeks, Barlow has a restricted period of time to capitalize on this elevated function.
An fascinating remark from Popovich’s submit sport presser was that Wembanyama’s minutes restriction has been modified from 24 minutes to 27. That’s an incremental distinction, however with the best way the rookie has been taking part in, extra minutes might be welcomed.
Play of the sport:
This sequence sums up what makes Jones so efficient. The pesky protection creates a turnover, he pushes the tempo in transition, makes a pleasant transfer after which finds the streaking Vassell for a lob.
Subsequent sport: at Charlotte Hornets on Friday
San Antonio will head to Charlotte to tackle the struggling Hornets, who the Spurs lately blew out at residence.
