Coming in off an exciting blowout win in Toronto, the San Antonio Spurs had been seeking to enter the All-Star break on a profitable streak. Sadly, they ran right into a red-hot Dallas Mavericks membership, and after a scorching 18 minutes to begin the sport and main by as a lot as 15, the Spurs offense went ice chilly for the rest of the sport whereas the Mavs made defensive changes and bought on a roll offensively.
Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 26 factors and 9 rebounds, though 20 of them got here throughout the preliminary scorching begin earlier than he went chilly with the remainder of the staff. Luka Doncic had 27 factors (regardless of capturing simply 1-8 from three) earlier than exiting within the fourth quarter with what seemed to be neck spasms, and Kyrie Irving was an unstoppable drive with 34 factors.
Observations
Wemby scored 12 of the Spurs first 17 factors, hitting two threes and helping a Julian Champagnie three with a no-look, behind-the-back move. He already had a 12-2-2-2 (blocks) stat line at his first break and was getting loads of oohs and aahs from the Dallas devoted, even with none flashy dunks. He stayed scorching within the second quarter and bought his twentieth level of the sport, which simply so occurred to even be his 1,000th profession level. David Robinson is the one Spurs rookie to attain extra in 50 video games (this was no. 49 for Wemby), and he joins Robinson and Shaquille O’Neal as the one rookies to ever have 1,000+ factors in 150+ blocks of their first 50 video games.
Issues might have been completely different if it weren’t for a mix of the offense going chilly and Kyrie Irving within the second quarter. After main by as a lot as 15, the Spurs discovered themselves down by 5 heading into the break with Irving getting all 17 of his first-half factors within the quarter. On the similar time, the Spurs went the ultimate 5:44 of the half with no area aim and reverted to their dangerous behavior of settling for threes when pictures cease falling. After hitting 4-10 within the first quarter, they shot 0-10 within the second and completed the sport 9-36.
The turd quarter made its return for the Spurs, because it was extra of the identical from the second, with the Mavs making no matter they needed whereas the Spurs couldn’t even purchase a layup to outscore them 32-14. Within the second and third quarters mixed, the Spurs solely scored yet another level than the primary. Their solely constant supply of offense within the second half was Malaki Branham, who scored 11 straight factors to open the fourth quarter and hit 4 threes total.
As if the basketball gods had been saying “that’s sufficient” after about five-and-a-half consecutive quarters of spectacular ball from Wemby, he sat caught on 20 factors till he scored six fast ones halfway by means of the fourth quarter earlier than being pulled for rubbish time. In actuality, it was a great defensive adjustment made by Jason Kidd. After beginning Wemby’s quick begin, he made the adjustment of placing PJ Washington on him and having Dereck Energetic (who didn’t begin after breaking his nostril within the final sport) or Daniel Gafford roam the paint to maintain him out, and it labored as he settled for jumpers.
It was a tough sport for each Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, who mixed for 14 factors on 5-27 capturing from the sphere. They had been removed from the one chilly shooters within the sport, however extra is predicted from them. Jeremy Sochan performed good protection on Doncic when he was matched up on him, particularly early, however all 10 of his factors got here within the first quarter earlier than he went chilly as effectively.
Want to finish on a optimistic word? Simply going to depart this right here.
After the much-needed All-Star Break, the Spurs will return to motion on Thursday, February 22 in Sacramento. Tipoff might be at 9:00 PM CT on Bally Sports activities.
