The San Antonio Spurs have been one of many few NBA groups left that haven’t received an NBA Cup recreation but. They broke that streak with a 110-104 win in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Tuesday evening. With out their prime three scorers, Victor Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, and Jeremy Sochan, an entire solid of Spurs stepped up within the victory.
Chris Paul got here up large within the clutch with a 14-point, 11-assist efficiency. He managed the Spurs’ offense and hit massive photographs down the stretch. The turning level within the recreation arguably got here late within the second quarter and into the third, when Keldon Johnson went on an enormous scoring run. Johnson led the Spurs in scoring with 22 factors off the bench.
The Thunder got here again from down 21 within the fourth quarter to chop the Spurs result in 6 late within the recreation. They simply couldn’t shoot the ball nicely sufficient to take the lead. OKC shot simply 41% from the sphere and 30.2% from deep. Regardless of the group’s struggles, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a superb recreation, scoring 32 factors and including 7 assists.
San Antonio had a scorching taking pictures evening, going 46.4% from the sphere and hitting 19 of their 46 threes (41.3%). The win ties up the West Group B, with OKC, San Antonio, the Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns all sitting at 1-1. The Spurs’ subsequent NBA Cup recreation will probably be subsequent Tuesday in opposition to the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake Metropolis. They’ll host the Jazz for his or her subsequent recreation on Thursday.
Observations
Charles Bassey was nice off the bench for the Spurs. His power was infectious, and he made massive play after massive play in his 21 minutes. His rebounding, rim protection, and lob ending have been massive causes the Spurs received the sport. He completed with 12 factors, 8 rebounds and a pair of blocks
The Dallas Mavericks beforehand dominated the Spurs inside. The undermanned and undersized Thunder struggled to maintain the Spurs out of the paint. San Antonio scored 36 factors within the paint and obtained to the road 19 occasions, hitting 13 free throws.
San Antonio had 13 turnovers within the first half however simply 1 within the third quarter after they constructed a lead. Their 6 turnovers within the fourth quarter allowed the Thunder to get again into the sport. Stephon Fort led the group with 6 turnovers, together with some expensive ones down the stretch.
It was a curler coaster of a recreation for Fort. He had 10 factors and eight assists within the win He shot 3-13 from the sphere and had 6 turnovers. He fought by means of some late errors, hitting a clutch three and getting an enormous block on SGA within the final 30 seconds.
