Oklahoma Metropolis (4-0), clamping down on a Spurs squad with its top-ranked protection, used an 18-2 run within the first quarter to stake itself to a snug lead that was not threatened in a 105-93 victory. The Thunder began white scorching from three (14 first half makes), whereas many San Antonio forays stalled out deep within the paint with 2-3 defenders lurking close by. Chet Holmgren obtained the higher of his extra heralded counterpart all through a lot of the primary half with 15 factors and two blocks, whereas Victor Wembanyama had his worst output of the younger season.
San Antonio (1-3) was led once more by Jeremy Sochan (17 factors and 9 rebounds) accompanied by grizzled veterans Harrison Barnes (18 factors and 4 rebounds) and Chris Paul (14 factors and 9 assists). The staff let Wembanyama (6 factors, 8 rebounds, and three blocks) down by not having the ability to discover him in advantageous spots within the halfcourt, which was not helped by him getting slowed down by his personal frustrations. Malaki Branham chipped in 15 factors off the bench.
The Thunder have been paced by Holmgren (19 factors and 5 rebounds) paced 4 starters in double figures – Luguentz Dort (20 factors and 6 rebounds), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (18 factors and 5 assists), and Jalen Williams (12 factors and eight assists) totally outplayed their counterparts.
The guests had appreciable problem getting by means of the lane amidst a sea of Thunder arms, and settled fairly for jumpers with a lot of them clanging off the rim. Oklahoma Metropolis’s success from three allowed them to settle into the catbird seat. Whereas the Spurs steadied themselves and stored OKC off the board over the past two minutes of the primary, they nonetheless ended a troublesome opening body down seven.
The Thunder continued to make life troublesome for San Antonio at one each ends, whereas capturing confidently and overtly from distance of their halfcourt offense. The Spurs’ deficit ballooned to 19 earlier than they discovered a veteran line-up that might considerably deter the hopeful contenders. Chris Paul’s well timed capturing staved off OKC operating away with issues, however the Thunder nonetheless went to the half up 59-44.
The Thunder began the second half by attacking the basket at-will. Holmgren tagged Wembanyama with an elbow to the face on a drive, and Harrison Barnes’ fadeaway introduced San Antonio inside 11. Behind Barnes and Paul, the Spurs managed to impressively win the quarter 26-23 regardless of Oklahoma Metropolis’s astounding success from distance.
Observations
With the stirring Celtics / Pacers tilt spilling into additional time, the Spurs / Thunder telecast began with San Antonio up 10-7.
OKC is forcing a turnover on one in all each 5 possessions, per Zach Kram of The Ringer. They thusly generated numerous deflections and steals in triumph tonight.
These SATX uniforms are fairly meh.
With the Spurs being on the nationwide airwaves once more, we (nicely, primarily I) have to get used to the longer tv timeouts.
It’s these kind of robust street video games the place Barnes must extra forcefully assert himself on the offensive finish – and he ended up doing that!
I misplaced rely of the occasions that Tim Legler and Dave Pasch commented on San Antonio’s suboptimal offense.
This might need been the primary recreation this season that felt a bit too huge for Stephon Fort.
Victor Ease: Unsure really feel about Wembanyama stationed on the free throw line (like Dirk Nowitzki used to). Whereas he is ready to see the ground nicely from that perch, he can’t punish the protection with that mid-range jumper but.
Sequence of the Recreation: After Zach Collins emphatically turned away Aaron Wiggin’s dunk try at first of the second interval, Malaki Branham’s related from the wing.
In a fast-paced opening handful of minutes, the Spurs briefly held a small lead. Jalen William’s steal of Paul’s crosscourt go and breakaway dunk drew Pop’s ire. San Antonio had bother changing its seems to be from the perimeter, whereas Holmgren hit two early ones of his personal. Because the Spurs’ discipline objective drought spanned 9 makes an attempt, OKC prolonged out to a 20-10 benefit. Zach Collins’ three and a spinning lay-up by Blake Wesley fended off an early blowout. The Thunder had the Spurs down 26-19 after one.
San Antonio managed to get a pair of shot-clock violations on OKC late within the first and at first of the second. Wembanyama tumbled to the ground along with his defender, and Jalen Williams discovered a streaking Holmgren for a transition dunk. A visibly annoyed and probably injured Wembanyama went straight to the locker room. Holmgren’s three after an inbounds turnover and Ajay Mitchell’s three put the Spurs down 19. After Holmgren inexplicably tried throwing himself a lob off the backboard, Paul hit a pair of threes to deliver San Antonio inside ten. Paul’s third three was answered in a short time by Jalen Williams and Luguentz Dort, and the Spurs have been lucky to be down solely 15 on the break.
OKC held a lay-up parade to start out the second half to match their greatest lead at 19. Julian Champagnie encouragingly hit a nook three, and Barnes’ driving dunk introduced San Antonio inside two touchdowns. Dort’s second uncontested three of the body put the Thunder up 19 once more. Paul hit a patented mid-range jumper and located Sochan for an acrobatic lay-up. Barnes’ wing three introduced the Spurs inside eight as they mounted their first critical push. After San Antonio’s most interesting defensive stand of the sport, Keldon Johnson’s three trimmed their deficit to seven.
Malaki Branham’s bankshot three once more introduced San Antonio inside seven to start out the fourth, which ended up being the closest that they might get. No different Spurs might assist Branham mount a comeback try within the stanza.
San Antonio heads west for a street SEGABABA in opposition to Lauri Markkanen and the Utah Jazz tomorrow night time at 8:00 PM CDT.
Blissful Halloween Pounders!
