The Spurs season is just some days away from being over, and with each Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox out for some time now, there hasn’t been a lot to do however wait it out and begin anticipating subsequent season, which is wanting very promising with a wholesome squad. That being stated, you probably have tuned the Spurs out recently, you’ve missed some enjoyable video games. There was the Mamu recreation in opposition to the Knicks, upset of the Nuggets, and the thrilling comeback in opposition to the Cavs, which was solely misplaced when Harrison Barnes’ floater bounced off the again iron on the buzzer.
A fair simpler recreation to tune out would have been final night time’s match-up in opposition to the Warriors in San Francisco. It was a 9 PM tipoff for San Antonians, the second night time of a back-to-back after a tricky loss to the Clippers, and there was loads of motive to imagine the identical Warriors workforce that gave the Spurs a 32-point shellacking in SA a few weeks in the past would have an excessive amount of at stake to blow this recreation at residence. It didn’t seem to be a win was so as, however as soon as once more, if you happen to tuned out, you missed out.
After overcoming a nasty first quarter with a powerful second quarter, the Spurs as soon as once more discovered themselves down 12 heading into the fourth after a turd quarter, however they didn’t stop. They slowly floor away on the lead, and after a few robust buckets from Keldon Johnson, Barnes had one other probability at redemption (each for the Cavs recreation and for fouling Draymond Inexperienced the earlier possession, permitting him to tie the sport on the line). He delivered in opposition to his former membership with a formidable fadeaway three on the buzzer.
Over at NBA.com, they’ve a function known as The Horry Scale, the place they fee game-winning buzzer beaters 1-5 based mostly on components similar to recreation state of affairs, issue, significance, and so on. I don’t know when the Spurs final made an “Horry” — they simply missed out in Charlotte through the Rodeo Highway Journey when Fox’s three was only a hair late — however they lastly did final night time, and here’s what they needed to say on the way in which to giving Barnes three Horrys:
With the Warriors combating to keep away from the SoFi Play-In Event, a well-known face dealt a severe blow to their hopes. San Antonio’s Harrison Barnes, who performed his first 4 seasons within the Bay and was part of the 2015 title workforce, capped off a 20-point night time with a game-winning 3-pointer on the buzzer to offer the Spurs a 114-111 win over Golden State on Wednesday night time.
After Draymond Inexperienced hit a pair of free throws to tie up the sport, the Spurs known as timeout with 3.1 seconds left to arrange the ultimate play.
GAME SITUATION: Each groups entered the night time enjoying the second recreation of a back-to-back, and the Warriors might have run out of steam down the stretch. After Golden State let a 14-point lead slip away, Barnes made the attention-grabbing alternative of fouling Inexperienced with a two-point lead, which paid off in that they didn’t get burned by a 3-pointer whereas additionally establishing San Antonio with the ultimate motion in regulation.
DIFFICULTY: After Stephon Citadel inbounded the ball, Barnes had the choice at hand off to the rookie, who had a team-high 21 factors, or maintain the ball in his personal fingers. The 13-year veteran, who had already hit 5 3s within the recreation, opted to spin to his left and take the shot over the outstretched arms of Jimmy Butler III. Barnes had time to take two dribbles to his left earlier than fading away to get the shot over the 6-foot-7 Butler. The shot was pure and the celebration ensued.
CELEBRATION: Barnes, who completed 6-for-9 from the sector (all 3-point makes an attempt), had a quick second to maintain his proper hand prolonged within the comply with via earlier than his teammates mobbed him. Stephon Citadel was the primary to leap into the jubilant veteran’s arms, and the remainder of the workforce joined within the enjoyable, carrying their hero up the courtroom as they jumped in celebration. One Spurs participant skipped the preliminary scrum to as a substitute run to midcourt and throw his fist within the air, earlier than becoming a member of his teammates in mobbing their savior.
GRADE: With San Antonio already eradicated from playoff competition, each shiny second is a constructing block for the long run. This win on the street will definitely be one thing the younger roster can bear in mind subsequent season because the Spurs proceed their rebuild. For the Warriors, this was a troublesome blow, dropping them from 4th within the West to seventh and a possible SoFi Play-In spot. For Barnes, sealing the win in dramatic trend in a well-known metropolis seemed prefer it held further which means. We’ll give it 3 Horrys.
The Spurs have two video games left, and each look very winnable at this level — at Phoenix, the place the Suns are eradicated from the play-in and can doubtless be checked out, and at residence in opposition to the Toronto Raptors — so you’ll want to tune in and root the Spurs on till the very finish.
