After a tough loss to the Sacramento Kings in clutch time, the San Antonio Spurs will journey southwest for a matchup with the Golden State Warriors. The Spurs have misplaced two-straight after happening a two-game profitable streak in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and Indiana Pacers. San Antonio will as soon as once more be with out their celebrity huge man, Victor Wembanyama, who damage his ankle in opposition to the Houston Rockets. Golden State may even be with out their star, Stephen Curry, who’s out with an ankle damage.
San Antonio performed Golden State shut of their final matchup, shedding 118-112. Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 24 factors off the bench within the loss. With no Wembanyama, the Spurs will depend on Vassell to steer the workforce as soon as once more in hopes to interrupt their shedding streak on Saturday.
March 9, 2024 | 7:30 PM CT
Watch: Bally | Hear: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Charles Bassey – Out (left knee,) Sidy Cissoko – Out (G League,) David Duke Jr. – Out (G League,) Jamaree Bouyea – Out (G League,) RaiQuan Grey – Out (G League,) Victor Wembanyama – Out (proper ankle,) Cedi Osman – Out (left ankle)
Warriors Accidents: Stephen Curry – Out (proper ankle,) Trayce Jackson-Davis – Questionable (proper ankle)
What to observe for
Can Malaki Branham stick with it?
The most effective Spurs storylines because the All-Star break has been the improved play of sophomore combo guard, Malaki Branham. Since re-entering the rotation after the commerce deadline, Branham has averaged 14.4 factors and a couple of.4 assists, capturing 50% from the sphere and 54.3% from deep for a formidable 65.2% true capturing share. He’s additionally taken leaps as a defender in that point.
Branham is prone to proceed to return off the bench in a scoring function. After his greatest sport of the season on Thursday, will Branham stick with it in opposition to a tricky Warriors squad? Much like the Kings, the Warriors are a bottom-15 workforce in protection. That would imply Branham breaks free for one more huge scoring night time.
Protection, protection, protection
It’s not secret that the Warriors can fill it up. It’s been their M.O. for years. They’re sixth within the league in factors scored per sport (118.7) and ninth in three level share (37.6%.) The Spurs have struggled on the defensive finish with out Wembanyama, as we noticed of their final matchup with the Kings. They might want to convey defensive depth and shut out on the Warriors shooters to cease this from turning into a shootout.
Will the recent capturing proceed?
The Spurs have been killing groups from deep currently. Vassell and Branham have led the barrage of threes, however Zach Collins and others have gotten in on the motion, too. Golden State provides up 37 three level makes an attempt per sport (twenty fifth within the league,) however solely permits groups to shoot 35.6% from that vary (seventh within the NBA.) One other scorching capturing night time might bust the Warriors perimeter protection.
