San Antonio blitzed Toronto with a 30-9 first quarter shut – keyed by eight compelled steals (15 total) and an elevated offensive assault – to safe a 20 level lead that it could regularly construct upon to get its third straight triumph. The Spurs had been paced by the best of Devin Vassell’s March outings (25 factors, 6 assists, and a pair of steals). Rookie of the Yr favourite Stephon Fortress (15 factors and 5 rebounds) had one other strong begin, whereas Julian Champagnie (20 factors, 5 rebounds, and three steals) deflated the Raptors with an ideal taking pictures effort. Blake Wesley (8 factors, 4 assists, and three steals) optimized his minutes. San Antonio’s wonderful ball motion may need been outdone by a steller defensive efficiency.
Second-round decide Jamal Shead (17 factors and 6 assists) led the best way early on for Toronto. Outdoors of their veterans – former Rookie of the Yr Scottie Barnes (22 factors and 6 rebounds) and RJ Barrett (18 factors and seven rebounds), the remainder of the rotation resembled online game NPC gamers in San Antonio’s onslaught and wilted (20 turnovers) from their stifling protection.
An energized Spurs squad harrassed the Toronto starters into numerous turnovers in a runaway first quarter that noticed Vassell and Fortress present the taking pictures and management because the rotation gamers round him modified. After the duo spearheaded a San Antonio surge into the lead, Jeremy Sochan, Champagnie, and Blake Wesley got here in and wreaked havoc on each ends. Wesley had two spotlight steal and end sequences, and Sochan made life depressing on the Toronto inside. Wesley, specifically, keyed a push close to the top of the interval to place the Raptors down 20.
Toronto discovered an improved offense within the second quarter, however continued to waste possessions on steals and unfored turnovers. Champagnie bought into double digits to maintain any Raptors positive factors minimal. Threes from Harrison Barnes and Vassell halted Toronto’s earlier progress. San Antonio, with a 17-9 burst, tried to match its first quarter run to convey the half to a satisfying 62-40 finish.
The Spurs had been in a position to keep away from the complacency of Friday’s third quarter – primarily as a result of Vassell’s skill to knock down troublesome photographs at will. Scottie Barnes was in a position to join on some photographs to dent the Raptors’ scorebook, however San Antonio persistent stress enabled it to push their benefit again out to the high-20s. Whereas Vassell made the quarter his personal private H-O-R-S-E sport, all Spurs that performed made noticeablly constructive contributions to assist push the result in 34.
Observations
The Sling preview of immediately’s sport: “A weakened Spurs staff heads north of the border to open up their season collection with the Raptors.” Take that Sling.
Gamers I favored watching from the Duke / Baylor sport: Kon Kneuppel (taking pictures), Sion James (may you think about he and Fortress roaming the perimeter?), Tyrese Proctor (alternative for Paul), and that Flagg fella.
Former Future’s Youngster singer Kelly Rowland sat courtside and was launched between quarters. My favourite of the ‘kids.’ Trendy Queen of Soul Mary J. Blige additionally bought acknowledged within the third quarter.
It was enjoyable to see the 22-year outdated dimunitive Shead chase the 39-year outdated dimunitive Paul round.
Devin’s Deeds: In a highlight-filled third interval, Vassell stole a Toronto cross (a typical prevalence this night) and flew in for a hovering slam to make it 82-54.
Bo Is aware of: I used to considerably wince through the wind-up on his photographs, however now really feel fairly good on the probabilities of his little hooks and floaters. He had a pleasant swish at the beginning of the second half. After a tip-in over two Raptors, Jacob Tobey exclaimed “Per standard!”
Shades of Ginobili: After a Raptor threw a cross off of Vassell’s face, Sochan discovered a streaking Wesley, who handed it to Vassell and he delivered a feather to Keldon Johnson for a lob lay-up. Wesley’s behind-the-back supply in all probability jogged my memory of those Ginobili used to feed DeJuan Blair.
Fortress Hills: His first basket got here off a handoff and was nicely past the arc. Great things.
Sequence of the Sport #1: Midway by means of the opening stanza, Harrison Barnes swiped a steal, fed Fortress, and he and Vassell had a pleasant give-and-go for a Fortress slam.
Sequence of the Sport #2: Wesley stole a telegraphed cross and threw down a jam on the different finish – then instantly drew an offensive foul on the veteran Scottie Barnes on the finish of a extremely encouraging first quarter.
Sequence of the Sport #3: After a Toronto timeout within the third quarter, Vassell stole one other Raptors cross, discovered Keldon Johnson, who lofted a lob to an expectant Sochan.
Sport Rundown
The groups had hassle discovering the underside of the online within the first handful of minutes. Vassell had a few misses on open seems earlier than pulling down two clean ones. Fortress had 4 early factors, whereas netting two consecutive steals. Shead, panned in faculty for not taking pictures nicely, had 5 early factors, however Toronto began 4-for-17 and put up a handful of misses on one possession alone. Wesley, Champagnie, and Harrison Barnes pestered the Raptor guards and compelled a shot-clock violation. A Vassell lay-up paired with a Sochan nook three and lay-up prolonged the lead toi 13. Wesley was instrumental in turning the spectacular 25-12 begin right into a 36-16 romp after one.
Shead helped the Raptors minimize into the lead with a 9-3 run over the primary three minutes of the second interval. Champagnie was the beneficiary of two good feeds from Wesley and Fortress to knock down threes. Sandro Mamukelashvili prolonged a number of San Antonio possessions and fluidly discovered teammates, together with Champagnie for his third triple. A pair of threes from Harrison Barnes sandwiched round a Vassell three elevated the Spurs’ benefit to 25. The Spurs went to the half up 22.
Scottie Barnes, who in all probability bought the message on the break to say himself extra, knocked down two threes to begin the third. Barrett additionally sought out his personal offense to combined outcomes. Vassell, confidently in his bag, hit three 4 5 of the more durable jumpers I’ve seen him make. Fortress had a decrease physique scare on a possession however returned to motion and transformed a transition layup and compelled yet one more Toronto turnover. Jamison Battle was whistled for the Zaza (you stink Pachulia) closeout foul on Champagnie and assigned a Flagrant-1. Champagnie ended the stanza with a skywalking tip dunk to make it 97-63. The big lead allowed Malaki Branham and Jordan McLaughlin to get important taking part in time.
For the Raptors fan’s perspective, please go to Raptors HQ.
San Antonio takes on Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons Tuesday at 6:00 PM CDT.
