The Spurs put down the Bucks, avenging Jan. 8’s defeat and successful their fourth recreation of the month. The workforce scored a season-high of 144 factors, logged a season-high of 24 3-pointers plus annihilated the Bucks on the break.
After the sport, Victor Wembanyama stated, “That’s another instance of how we have to play…This one, I may really feel like everybody was uninterested in dropping.”
The Spurs had been deer searching early. They raced out to a 21-13 lead and in between, Wembanyama blocked Giannis Antetokounmpo twice on the rim. However the Bucks got here stampeding again with eight straight factors, forcing coach Mitch Johnson to name a timeout. Subsequent, Keldon Johnson scored 10 factors to finish the quarter, nevertheless it was neck-and-neck because the Greek Freak saved attending to his candy spots, plus Khris Middleton, who was scoreless in two of his final three video games, had a renaissance within the interval.
Each squads had been deadlocked at 35 heading into the second quarter. Okay. Johnson saved capturing like John Dillinger from shut and lengthy vary. On prime of that, Tre Jones and Citadel helped carry the workforce via Wembanyama’s gradual offensive begin. But, the Bucks continued ramming their approach into the paint and to the road.
Then Wembanyama checked again in with six minutes left within the first half. He started to search out his groove, making 4 free throws plus two 3-pointers and took a cost in opposition to Antetokounmpo, however the Spurs had been nonetheless down 71-70 heading into intermission.
At that second, the workforce was being outscored in paint factors 24-22 and in second-chance factors 13-5, however they had been up 10-5 in fastbreak factors. Okay. Johnson had 20 of the workforce’s 30 bench factors.
Subsequently, the Spurs opened the third quarter, making 5 of seven baskets to take a five-point lead, which later ballooned to 17. Wembanyama stayed sharp because the quarter went on, making a putback dunk, three 3-pointers and three freebies. Defensively, the workforce held the Bucks to 30 p.c capturing from 3-point vary, however they weren’t as profitable guarding Antetokounmpo and Lillard contained in the arc.
The fourth quarter began with the Spurs forward 115-101. Barnes and the reserve crew weren’t stopped from attending to the rim then Wemby, Vassell and Paul checked in a single final time to place the ending touches on the sport.
The Spurs received 144-118. They outscored the Bucks in paint factors 46-40 and fastbreak factors 28-6. The Bucks had the benefit in second-chance factors 27-14.
Play of the sport
Wembanyama saved a wild cross from Citadel then hit a turnaround 3-pointer with Antetokounmpo on his hip.
Recreation Notes
The Spurs had been an offensive machine. They scored 113.1 factors per 100 half-court performs, adequate for the 89th percentile of all video games performed this season. And so they scored 182.6 factors per 100 transition performs, placing them within the ninety fifth percentile, per Cleansing the Glass. Moreover, a part of the rationale they had been so efficient is as a result of they took care of the ball, turning it over solely 4 occasions, which is a brand new finest this season.
The Spurs’ paint protection was glorious, with Wemby protecting the again line and others serving to promptly. Johnson gave him props for “quarterbacking the protection together with his communication.” Moreover, they held the Bucks to eight.2 proportion factors under the league common on the rim.
The workforce outscored the Bucks by 27 factors and held them to 34 p.c capturing within the second half. Besides, 144 is essentially the most factors Milwaukee has conceded all season.
Citadel bought one of many hardest assignments within the league in guarding Lillard. The hesitation transfer was laborious for him to learn, however he additionally bothered Lillard in full-court press. He didn’t rating an environment friendly 20 factors (35.7 p.c), however his two 3-pointers early within the third quarter had been an enormous spark for the workforce. After the sport, Johnson stated, “He’s an especially aggressive participant [who] can accomplish that many alternative issues…I feel you see him studying on the job, and he’s making the identical mistake much less.”
Okay. Jonson solely had 4 second-half factors, however he gave the workforce an enormous raise earlier than intermission. At that time, he had eight made baskets and no different Spur had greater than three. After the sport, Citadel stated, “I really feel like Keldon’s vitality off the bench within the first half form of saved us in that recreation…” Okay. Johnson was additionally the one one on the workforce to make no less than 10 area targets.
Jeremy Sochan didn’t play that many minutes, however he was the backup middle. His defensive versatility shined as he guarded Lillard and different perimeter gamers, and he did properly as a helper. He additionally will get additional factors for being a great teammate by stopping Antetokounmpo from getting in Chris Paul’s face in the direction of the tip of the fourth quarter.
Antetokounmpo bought something he wished from 17 ft and in. He even viciously dunked on Wemby twice.
Vassell recovered two rebounds, which places him at 999 for his profession.
