In search of their tenth straight win for the primary time in ten years, the Spurs continued their tour of Japanese Convention playoff groups, this time throughout the border in opposition to the Toronto Raptors. It wasn’t a reasonably sport, however regardless of extra offensive struggles from Victor Wembanyama and a few horrible free throw taking pictures making life more durable than it needed to be, the Spurs discovered a approach, rallying again from 15 down late within the third due to some scorching three-point taking pictures and clutch defensive play.
The Spurs scored the primary six factors and received out to a 9-2 lead, however just like two nights in the past in Detroit, issues all of the sudden slowed down whereas they struggled with 5 turnovers, and the Raptors saved chipping away on the lead, closing the quarter on a 12-6 run to get inside some extent, 30-29. The principle purpose the Spurs have been nonetheless forward was, luckily for them, Devin Vassell was additionally nonetheless in Detroit type with 8 factors on 2-2 from three, and Dylan Harper got here in scorching off the bench for 9 factors within the first quarter.
The Spurs appeared to get up to start out the second, with a Wemby block resulting in a Harper quick break dunk, adopted by a De’Aaron Fox three to power a fast Raptors timeout, but it surely was brief lived. Wemby continued to wrestle on the offensive finish, and Toronto responded with a 7-0 run to take their first lead at 36-35. It stretched to a 10-0 run after a Spurs timeout, after they gave up a 3 by turning it over within the backcourt. The Spurs once more briefly regrouped, regaining the lead and stretching it to 5 due to extra offensive heroics from Vassell and Harper, however Wemby simply couldn’t get entangled on offense, and the Raptors closed on an 8-2 run to take a 57-55 lead into halftime.
The Raptors instantly received a three-point play to open the third quarter earlier than Wemby lastly received his first discipline purpose of the sport on an alley-oop dunk from Champagnie, who then hit a 3 to ties issues again up. Plenty of whistles had each groups within the bonus early, though Wemby, who couldn’t purchase a name in opposition to former Spur Jacob Poeltl, was getting agitated and subbed out sooner than regular, prone to cool off. With him out and Luke Kornet seemingly a step gradual after struggling a leg contusion in Detroit, the offense opened up for the Raptors, who continued to stretch out the lead in transition and from three. On offense, the Spurs have been settling for threes and largely lacking, however a giant one from Stephon Fortress minimize right into a 15-point Raptors lead, and the Spurs discovered themselves down 78-90 with 12 minutes to go.
Matt Bonner, who’s now a studio analyst for the Raptors however joined the Spurs broadcast for this sport, talked about Toronto’s largest weak spot is one thing Spurs followers can relate to: forgetting what received them there and getting stagnant within the fourth quarter. He was confirmed prophetic, because the Spurs opened the quarter on a 15-2 run to regain the lead, together with threes from Fortress, Vassell and Harrison Barnes, and a calmed-down Wemby’s presence on protection had the Raptors reeling. What they did have was the whistle of their favor and have been already within the bonus lower than 5 minutes in, which they used to remain shut. Extra big threes from Champagnie and Wemby received the Spurs forward 106-100 with beneath 4 minutes to go, however poor offensive selections after a timeout let the Raptors get again inside two.
Free throws have been an issue all night time, with the Spurs hitting simply 13-23 in comparison with 23-27 for the Raptors, and it reared it’s ugly head within the waning seconds of the sport. Harper had an opportunity to get them up by 4 with 16 seconds left however missed each free throws. Happily, he received his personal rebound, and Fox hit 1-2 to get the Spurs up 109-106 with 10 seconds left. Immanuel Quickley then hit 1-2 FT’s, and after a timeout, Wemby hit 1-2 with 8.7 seconds left. That meant the Raptors nonetheless had an opportunity, however Brandon Ingram’s three-point try went off the facet of the backboard, and the Spurs have been capable of get the rebound and heave it down court docket as time expired, securing their ugly (however lovely) tenth straight win for the primary time since 2016.
It might have been overshadowed by the missed free throws afterwards, however in any other case Fox was Mr. Clutch as soon as once more, together with this big bailout shot over the backboard with simply over a minute to go.
Up subsequent: Thursday at Brooklyn Nets
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