San Antonio Spurs followers have been ready to see the Silver and Black placed on a regular-season present at dwelling for months. The Spurs didn’t disappoint of their dwelling opener. Regardless of giving up a 26-point lead, San Antonio fought again within the fourth quarter to safe a 118-107 win over the Brooklyn Nets, beginning the season 3-0 for the primary time since 2019.
They had been led by the rookie Dylan Harper. The Rutgers product had 20 factors, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 0 turnovers within the win.
The Nets got here out of the gates pressuring the Spurs and forcing turnovers. San Antonio calmed down as soon as Harper entered the sport. He was ready not solely to face up to Brooklyn’s stress but additionally to make use of it towards them to get to the basket and rating.
Harper’s ending capacity has been on show since he took the court docket in the summertime league. It feels as if he can get each toes into the paint; he’s assured to get a bucket.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson praised Harper’s protection after the sport. He was wonderful on the level of assault and was well-positioned off the ball. He ate fellow rookie Egor Demin’s lunch all sport lengthy in a dominant defensive show.
As soon as the Spurs misplaced the lead, it was Harper who injected life into the workforce along with his artful ending in transition. He may need one of the best eurostep on the workforce already, and that Rajon Rondo faux is a veteran-level transfer. Ending performs like this towards NBA competitors at 19 years previous will not be regular.
Victor Wembanyama and Harper mixed for 51 of the Spurs’ 118 factors. This could possibly be the primary of many video games by which these two gamers account for a bulk of San Antonio’s scoring. It wasn’t a type of “jaw-dropping” nights from Wemby, and but he had 31 factors, 14 rebounds, 6 blocks, 4 assists, and three steals.
Petition to begin calling these performs “abductions.” Wemby (an alien) takes away a shot (on this case, TWO of them) on the rim, then dribbles down and nails a 3 on the opposite. He’s taking the ball away and taking away any momentum the opposite workforce had with a completely devastating play.
Wembanyama is staking his declare to the Defensive Participant of the Yr crown early this season. One way or the other, his blocks are getting extra eye-popping. He comes out of seemingly nowhere to dam pictures off the glass. I actually don’t understand how you get a layup off towards him.
Bear in mind in Wembanyama’s rookie season when it appeared not possible to get him the ball inside? These days are lengthy gone. San Antonio is doing an excellent job discovering the massive man inside for straightforward slams.
Devin Vassell sealed the victory for the Spurs late within the sport with a steal and slam. Vassell completed the sport with 16 factors and a steal. He’s stepped up defensively to date this season, and it’s been an enormous a part of the workforce’s 3-0 begin.
To see the sport’s full highlights, take a look at the video beneath:
