The Spurs made a valiant effort with out Victor Wembanyama however received beat on the horn by Bam Adebayo’s game-winning shot. One of many largest variations was that their offense was neutralized, scoring two baskets within the final 5 minutes. The group is now 4-4 in video games determined by three factors or fewer and 2-4 with out Wemby.
The Warmth could have been absent Jimmy Butler, however at this level they’re higher with out him. Some of the encouraging indicators was that the Spurs might cling within the sport whereas being overmatched by the athleticism and size of Adebayo and rookie Kel’el Ware. The opposite was that the protection did a strong job of guarding with out fouling, permitting simply 17 free throw makes an attempt, and holding the Warmth to five.5 proportion factors beneath their common in 3-point taking pictures.
Though, the considerations have been misfiring too many makeable alternatives and never with the ability to maintain the output of the primary quarter. The Spurs shot 39 % within the final three quarters.
Takeaways
The half-court assault was depressing, scoring simply 88.2 factors per 100 performs, adequate for the twenty fourth percentile of all video games performed this season, per Cleansing the Glass. A part of this was as a result of the Warmth’s zone gave the Spurs issues by forcing dangerous pictures and turnovers. With out Wemby, the group didn’t have the matchup benefit who might shatter the zone within the center. On Friday towards the Bucks, such ways have been futile with him on the ground.
Adebayo, who has performed a lot better since Butler was banished, appeared like an All-Star once more towards Charles Bassey. He was getting downhill and connecting on his jumpers. On prime of that, the Warmth didn’t see resistance within the again line from an actual shot blocker, which allowed them to attain effectively within the paint nonrestricted space and at mid-range.
Wemby’s absence freed minutes for the reserve bigs. Bassey’s finest work was recovering 15 rebounds, together with seven on offense and making 4 pictures on the rim. Sandro Mamukelashvili made three baskets in a row to provide San Antonio a three-point lead late within the sport. However Zach Collins was a dud, and Jeremy Sochan had hassle scoring towards size.
Keldon Johnson picked up the place he left off the evening earlier than, scoring 17 factors within the first half, totally on journeys to the road. However the Warmth have been prepared for him within the second half, holding him to 2 factors on 25 % taking pictures.
Citadel didn’t document probably the most eye-popping stats, however he stepped up as a playmaker, dishing six assists with out the highest goal on the group. Moreover, his pick-6 with beneath six minutes to go gave the Spurs a short lead as each squads have been head-to-head on the scoreboard for the quarter.
Harrison Barnes spent most of his break day protection, bothering Ware, who had 25 factors towards the Spurs on Jan. 19. Ware solely tried two pictures towards him, making one in five-and-a-half minutes, per the NBA’s monitoring knowledge.
Probably the most horrifying a part of the movie evaluate for Coach Mitch Johnson and the group will in all probability be re-watching Terry Rozier spank them from lengthy vary. He had made 24 % of his 3-point makes an attempt from Dec. 1 to earlier than the sport. Johnson ought to take this chance to nip the newest development – washed gamers balling out towards the Spurs- after seeing what Rozier and Khris Middleton did to the group over back-to-back video games.
