Spurs crush the Pacers in opening act in Paris

The San Antonio Spurs demolished the Indiana Pacers in Paris’ packed Accor Area. Victor Wembanyama, Harrison Barnes and Devin Vassell mixed for 31 of 44 baskets, and the protection neutered the Pacers into one in all their worst offensive showings of the season.

“There’s sure video games you don’t have to get the blokes up for, as we are saying,” coach Mitch Johnson mentioned after the sport. “This was one in all them. If something, most likely was anticipating a bit of little bit of chaos within the first 5 – 6 minutes…”

The Spurs had been enjoying a lot sooner than typical within the first quarter, however went up 30-29 as Wembanyama and Vassell’s leap photographs had been on the right track, and the remainder of the workforce made six of 14 photographs. Their greatest drawback was stopping Tyrese Haliburton from maneuvering to his candy spots and stopping his teammates from breaking into the paint.

However they had been off to a gradual begin within the second quarter because the Pacers raised their physicality. They missed their first three makes an attempt and two Stephon Citadel pick-sixes put the Spurs down 5 as coach Mitch Johnson referred to as an early timeout. Then Wembanyama’s gravity opened up capturing pockets and driving lanes for teammates, and he made one other shot on the coronary heart of the protection plus downed a 3-pointer.

4 Spurs made a number of area targets within the quarter and the workforce shot 62 p.c. However they dedicated 4 extra turnovers and on protection, had been unable to comprise Andrew Nembhard and Haliburton on the dribble or cease the hit forward cross.

At halftime, the Spurs had been up 60-57. Each groups had been tied in factors within the paint (26) and in second-chance factors (4), however the Spurs had the sting in fastbreak, scoring 13-8. On high of that, Jeremy Sochan, who returned from a again damage, Keldon Johnson and Tre Jones made 10 of 17 photographs off the bench earlier than intermission.

Then, in an entire reversal of their final three video games, which all become blowout losses whereas permitting 40+ factors to their opponent, the Spurs had been those who got here out of the break with dangerous intentions, making 4 of 5 baskets, elevating the result in eight and forcing a Pacers timeout. That didn’t matter as Wembanyama stored denying the Pacers on the rim, and the workforce added 5 extra triples to create an avalanche.

The fourth quarter began with the Spurs forward 105-80. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle stored his final starters in till there have been four-and-a-half minutes left. The Spurs by no means had their lead lower beneath 21 factors within the quarter as their offense stored rolling. The Spurs gained 140-110. They outscored the Pacers in three key areas: factors within the paint 66-54, fastbreak factors 34-10, and second-chance factors 18-13.

Chris Paul mentioned it felt like an All-Star Sport earlier than tipoff. “Our workforce hasn’t actually had the chance to play in these big-time video games… the extra we are able to get these kind of video games and get that kind of playoff really feel, it’s higher for our workforce.”

After the sport, Wembanyama was requested how he needed to be remembered in his profession. He mentioned, “As anyone who didn’t take shortcuts… [a] loyal individual, and hard-working but additionally revolutionary.”

The play of the sport

Wemby bought the ball again after he missed it, broke into lane, and lobbed it to himself for the slam.

Sport Notes

Jeremy Sochan performed properly because the backup middle when Wemby sat. Once they shared the ground, Sochan was a cutter plus lob menace. He completed with 13 factors on six of 9 makes an attempt, with 9 rebounds, three assists and one turnovers in 17 minutes. After the sport, Johnson mentioned Sochan and Jones helped change the dynamic by controlling the tempo and enjoying properly on protection.
Vassell had his high recreation of the season with 25 factors on 69.2 p.c capturing. He scored from an extended and mid-range on the catch and dribble and bought after it on protection by intercepting two passes and blocking two photographs.
The Spurs took over within the third quarter, scoring 45 factors on 73 p.c capturing. Barnes helped get issues began and had 10 factors on immaculate capturing within the interval.
The Spurs’ offense was within the half-court 77.1 p.c of the time. They scored 109.9 factors per 100 performs, adequate for the 84th percentile. Whereas in transition, they scored at a fee of 171.4 factors per 100 performs, adequate for the 92nd percentile, per Cleansing the Glass.
Wembanyama was a defensive menace. He had 5 blocks, pressured just a few cross outs and was the primary cause Indiana solely took 10 photographs on the rim. The Pacers had been additionally powerless to cease his lengthy jumper and actions within the paint.
This was the Spurs’ highest-scoring and best night time of the season in area purpose share (60.4 p.c) and offensive score (134.6). Moreover, it was the second-largest blowout of the yr after the 36-point win over the Clippers on Dec. 31.
The Spurs took a season low in free-throw makes an attempt (6), however made all of them. Consequently, they turned simply the third workforce in NBA historical past to have a 60/50/100 capturing night time.