Due to an occasion that solely occurs each 4 years, the Spurs bought the uncommon alternative to play their return sport from the Rodeo Street Journey in February. The quirkiness of the Leap Yr didn’t finish there, as after 5 straight losses, together with two particularly disappointing performances with a mixed 42 turnovers, the Spurs got here out and managed the West-leading Thunder for a majority of the sport whereas main in almost each offensive statistical class on their strategy to an exhilarating 132-118 win. (It’s virtually like offense wins video games these days.)
The starters hit 15-27 from three, with Tre Jones, Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell all hitting three and Victor Wembanyama hitting a profession excessive 5 threes. In reality, we bought one other milestone/NBA document sport from him on an evening when he was going head-to-head together with his direct Rookie of the Yr competitor, scoring 28 factors, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 blocks, making him the primary participant in NBA historical past to submit 25/10/5/5 with 5 made threes.
It didn’t begin that method, although, as Chet Holmgren was successful the ROY matchup early with 11 of his 23 factors within the first quarter whereas Wemby bought off to a gradual begin. Nonetheless, the Spurs led early as Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan bought out to sizzling begins, and though they briefly bought down by as a lot as seven because of their turnover points persisting, they responded with a 13-6 run to shut the quarter and tie issues up at 37 apiece.
The Spurs remained sizzling on offense within the second quarter and led 69-64 on the half, but when there’s one factor you don’t need to do to assist the Thunder, it’s give them free throws. The Spurs had already dedicated 4 fouls lower than three minutes into the third quarter (two careless ones which briefly noticed Sochan get benched once more), however they adjusted and remained disciplined, not committing one other foul for the following seven minutes. They continued to make their threes bought the lead as excessive as 12 earlier than the whistles tightened up and the Thunder took benefit, closing on a 14-4 run (six of which got here from the road) to chop the result in two, 98-96 heading into the ultimate body.
OKC’s run prolonged to start out the fourth, with the Thunder scoring the primary 4 factors to briefly retake the lead, however issues turned due to refs making…a nasty name? Jones was referred to as for a very bogus flopping technical on what was a blatant push off by Lu Dort with none exaggeration from Jones, and as an alternative of what ought to have been Spurs ball, Dort’s basket counted plus a technical free throw. The offended Spurs and crowd woke again up from there as they went on an prolonged run to regain management of the sport. Again-to-back threes from Jones and Wemby bought the lead again to 9 with simply over three minutes left, and the surprised Thunder might solely watch because the Spurs placed on a uncommon offensive show to decisively shut out the sport and ship presumably their finest house win of the season.
Recreation Notes
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander goes to get his factors it doesn’t matter what, and tonight was no exception has he had 31 factors on 12-22 taking pictures, however for probably the most half the Spurs did job of staying in entrance of him and making him work for these factors. Maybe most notably, they took away his different choices, because the Spurs coated the everybody else comparatively nicely when he wanted an outlet, they usually simply weren’t hitting their threes as OKC shot simply 9-31 for the evening. (It’s fairly wild seeing the Spurs hit ten extra threes than their opponent in a sport, particularly a workforce just like the Thunder).
For some time, it appeared like Spurs had been nonetheless mired of their turnover woes. They’d 5 turnovers within the first quarter, setting the tempo for an additional 20-turnover outing, and at one level within the second half, they had been being outscored one thing like 23-9 on factors off turnovers. Nonetheless, they tightened up and solely had six within the closing three quarters to interrupt the streak. They had been additionally in a position to reduce on the fouls, “solely” giving up 22 free throws whereas getting 20 themselves, in order that helped decrease the “straightforward” factors for the Thunder.
Possibly the headscarf was holding Zach Collins again. He continued his good stretch of play since eradicating it with 13 factors on 5-7 taking pictures off the bench, together with making his solely three-point try, which, in one other Leap Yr miracle, got here from the highest of the arc. Whereas he has stretch-five potential, sticking to a extra custom middle function close to the basket has been useful to him.
Sochan additionally broke out of his current stoop. After scoring only one level within the final two video games, he scored 21 tonight on 8-14 taking pictures, 3-6 from three, in addition to grabbing 10 rebounds regardless of his transient benching within the third quarter. He continues to seek out success as a cutter to the basket, and he did an admirable job taking part in protection on SGA (not less than as admirable as you possibly can count on). Vassell additionally got here near a double-double with 28 environment friendly factors and 9 rebounds. It takes a workforce to win, and the Spurs performed like one tonight.
Play of the Recreation
Wemby says, “Take that, Rookie of the Yr race!” It might not have been the play that received the sport, however it capped off the Spurs terrific run to tug away late within the fourth as he swallowed up Holmgren with what’s turning into generally known as “the dad block”.
Up subsequent: Sunday vs. Indiana
The Spurs could have one other likelihood to beat a postseason-bound workforce within the Pacers as outdated good friend Doug McDermott involves city. (However not less than they now not have Spurs killer Buddy Hield!) Tipoff can be at 6:00 PM CT on CW35.
