The Spurs nonetheless have an ideal file within the 2025/26 season. After beating the Nets on Sunday, the Silver and Black took care of the Raptors with ease on Monday, defeating the guests 121-103 because of a robust first half and a few well timed buckets within the fourth quarter.
Within the battle between two groups enjoying the second recreation of a back-to-back, the internet hosting Spurs appeared brisker than their opponent early on. The Raptors had been enjoying up on protection however not likely pressuring with any physicality, like they usually do. It was straightforward for San Antonio to search out some fast buckets inside, and the acute ranges of consideration Toronto was paying to Victor Wembanyama within the half-court resulted in some open photographs for his teammates. As soon as Wemby bought into the motion, the offense turned a buzz noticed. On the opposite finish, the Silver and Black had been rock strong towards a timid opponent that solely discovered a dependable strategy to rating as soon as the second items checked in, as Bismack Biyombo struggled to include the choose and roll. After one, the house crew was up by 12.
The Raptors regarded extra like themselves on protection to begin the second quarter, enjoying with an edge and loading up on Victor Wembanyama to maintain him uninvolved. Because of this, they fouled so much initially and left some guys open, however they didn’t pay too huge a worth for it. The issue was on the different finish, the place Wemby’s mere presence affected their offense, as they settled for jumpers as an alternative of attacking. The Spurs didn’t look all that sharp themselves when it got here to creating good scoring alternatives and had been, at instances, bothered by the defensive depth of their opponent. Fortunately, just a few threes fell when Wembanyama was resting, and the crew discovered sufficient success on drives to increase their result in 19 heading to the locker room.
It’s unclear if fatigue or complacency was the explanation, however the Spurs regarded sloppy and lackadaisical to begin the second half. They didn’t even try a area purpose of their first six journeys, turning the ball over in fully avoidable conditions. The Raptors deserve loads of credit score for sustaining their defensive stress and getting Wembanyama out of rhythm by sending further our bodies his method early on, however the Silver and Black had been their very own worst enemy. Stable protection prevented what regarded like an inevitable third-quarter collapse. Toronto had a second alternative to get again into the sport when Biyombo checked in, however couldn’t get the deficit underneath double digits earlier than Wembanyama returned. Heading into the ultimate quarter, San Antonio was up by 17.
After struggling within the Biyombo minutes, the teaching employees determined to experiment with a centerless lineup, with blended outcomes. Turnovers had been a difficulty once more, even as soon as the starters returned, and some minutes into the fourth, Toronto reduce the result in eight. It was a powerful effort that mixed aggressive protection with going away from Jakob Poeltl and utilizing taking pictures bigs to get Wemby out of the paint. Luckily, the Spurs reacted in time to forestall one other straightforward win from turning into a tightly contested one. Harrison Barnes hit big back-to-back three-pointers, Wembanyama discovered success on each ends, and the lead ballooned as soon as once more. The Raptors threw within the towel, and the final two minutes had been rubbish time, because the Silver and Black cruised to their fourth win in as many video games.
Subsequent recreation: vs. Miami Warmth on Thursday
After the back-to-back set, the Spurs will get two days off earlier than closing their three-game homestand by dealing with the Warmth.
