The Silver and Black couldn’t prolong their successful streak to 3. The Minnesota Timberwolves have been merely an excessive amount of to deal with for a Spurs workforce that lacked physicality on half-court offense and couldn’t hit three-pointers or get fastbreak factors to make up for it, en path to a 106-92 loss.
The Spurs began off attempting to set the tone with their protection. Jeremy Sochan was doing a stable job of containing Julius Randle and Victor Wembanyama was expertly defending the paint. On the opposite finish, these two tried to resolve the crossmatch and spacing points they typically run into with inside passing. That was sufficient to maintain the sport largely shut within the opening minutes earlier than the guests discovered their rhythm on offense and their contact on jumpers. Anthony Edwards carried the scoring load for some time, however slowly however certainly others acquired concerned. In the meantime, the ball and participant motion of the opening minutes disappeared for San Antonio for a number of possessions. Once they moved the ball, they discovered attractiveness, however even these not at all times went in. After one, the Timberwolves have been up 9 factors.
The offensive struggles the Spurs went by way of within the second half of the primary quarter have been solely exacerbated by a rise in physicality from the Wolves’ protection. There was nothing crisp about San Antonio’s assault, as each dribble and go took effort. Turnovers piled up and, making issues a lot worse, the nice exterior seems to be they may create refused to go in. There have been good moments by which Wemby was in every single place on protection and created some photographs straight or by way of his gravity, however the communal errors outweighed any particular person good. On the opposite finish, the Silver and Black have been doing a good job within the paint however the Wolves made their threes and acquired some offensive boards to make up for his or her turnovers. For the second straight quarter, San Antonio was beneath 20 factors and trailed by 15.
The lid lastly got here off the basket for the Spurs from exterior to begin the second half. Harrison Barnes hit some big threes to present the offense some life, however what actually offered reasonable hopes for a comeback was the newfound vitality displayed by the blokes carrying Silver and Black. San Antonio was contesting rebounds, successful 50/50 balls and had Victor Wembanyama offering elite rim safety. The deficit was reduce to simply three and never even a sloppy finish of the body on account of some rookie moments from Stephon Citadel and an absence of contributions from Vassell on lineups that wanted his shot creation derailed the comeback try. The guests have been nonetheless up six heading into the ultimate interval however at that time didn’t look as absolutely in charge of the sport as they have been within the first half.
Alas, the third quarter was the anomaly. The threes stopped falling once more and the makes an attempt to power drives have been unsuccessful. It was arduous to get Wembanyama concerned on offense and the Donte DiVincenzo – Rudy Gobert duo related on a few pick-and-rolls that allowed the Wolves to get the lead again to double digits after a close to four-minute drought for the Spurs. After that, Minnesota was rolling on offense and was as soon as once more outmuscling San Antonio on the opposite finish, making each half-court possession an journey. The Spurs acquired some stops to stop a blowout for some time however couldn’t get sufficient buckets to make a push and ultimately, it turned evident that there can be no comeback. With three minutes to go and down 20, Mitch Johnson pulled the plug and emptied his bench.
Play of the sport
The Spurs ought to use this 5-4 decide and roll extra typically.
Sport notes:
Victor Wembanyama had 20 factors nevertheless it took him 20 photographs to get there, as his exterior shot failed him and he solely took three free throws. He additionally logged just one dime within the second half, however the workforce went away from him and to a extra guard-heavy assault, so it’s arduous guilty him. He nonetheless posted a 20-point, 10-rebound, five-assist, seven-block stat line as a result of he’s a monster.
Jeremy Sochan had 17 factors on 10 photographs to go together with 15 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal, and a block. Like Wemby, he did a little bit of all the pieces, as he additionally had some nice moments on protection. There are nonetheless some points when he shares the ground with Wembanyama on offense however the teaching workers is attempting to resolve them by basically taking part in him as the middle and Wemby as the facility ahead and utilizing the aforementioned inside passing to negate a few of the spacing points. Mitch Johnson was requested about Sochan’s return to the beginning lineup being everlasting after the sport and whereas he wasn’t conclusive he hinted that Sochan will proceed to begin.
Chris Paul went scoreless however dished 9 assists. An rising challenge is that opponents have found out that they will trouble him after they put an even bigger defender on him and apply strain. Paul well defers to different guards when that occurs, however the Spurs don’t have plenty of skilled playmakers, in order that they get into their units late. Tre Jones’ return might assist there.
Stephon Citadel had a nightmare of a sport in his return to the bench. There have been good moments, however he overdribbled and compelled issues on offense (two factors on eight photographs, 5 assists however three turnovers) and wasn’t an element on protection. It’s regular for a rookie to wrestle, so this efficiency just isn’t an enormous deal, however on an evening by which Devin Vassell didn’t have it, Citadel’s lack of ability to make an influence was felt.
Julian Champagnie didn’t have it going from exterior however continued to shoot and located methods to contribute in different methods. Harrison Barnes simply made well timed buckets, particularly within the third. The 2 proceed to play nicely sufficient to maintain their beginning spots, which is an effective drawback for Coach Johnson.
Three deep bench guys most likely ought to have performed extra. Blake Wesley when he was on the ground and with Citadel struggling might have helped. Sandro Mamukelashvili solely acquired 9 minutes partially as a result of the Spurs went small with Champagnie at energy ahead a few occasions however made a 3 and had a reasonably help. Charles Bassey acquired his quarter-hour however a few of these got here in rubbish time. Johnson tweaked Wemby’s on-court sample by leaving him on the ground a bit of longer within the first quarter and never resting him within the fourth. Victor appeared gassed late, so extra Bassey earlier would have most likely been a good suggestion.
Subsequent sport: vs. Atlanta Hawks on Thursday
The Spurs can have three days off to get wholesome. Beating the Hawks is doubly vital, as San Antonio owns Atlanta’s 2025 draft decide.
