Phoenix swarmed the Spurs from the onset, notably Victor Wembanyama (9 level, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks), and compelled them nicely out of their consolation zone to win comfortably. On an evening when Phoenix celebrated ‘Day of the Useless,’ their capturing got here alive, and San Antonio’s offensive execution resembled a disjointed skeleton. The Suns blitzed the Spurs and had been the recipients of steller capturing on a night the place the guests’ aiim betrayed them and bought an uncharacteristically passive sport from Victor Wembanyama. Rookie Dylan Harper exited the sport with a decrease leg damage late within the opening half, whereas Jalen Inexperienced sat out the Suns ‘ victory.
Stephon Citadel (26 factors, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) helped stage a Spurs comeback try within the fourth quarter. Keldon Johnson (19 factors) and Harper (12 factors, decrease physique damage) prevented this sport from being a laugher in defeat. Rookie Carter Bryant put up 10 factors and a couple of steals.
Devin Booker (28 factors and 13 assists) led a procession of Suns’ contributors that put up a formidable array of pictures. Collin Gillespie (15 factors and 4 assists), Ryan Dunn (17 factors and 5 rebounds), and Grayson Allen (17 factors) expanded the Phoenix benefit all through and helped Booker fend off a late comeback try.
Phoenix benefitted from a handful of alarmingly open seems to be from three – unfold out amongst their rotation gamers – to stake themselves to an early lead. San Antonio had bother creating something outdoors of isos, whereas the Suns performed ’the gorgeous sport’ – aiding on 7 of their first 8 discipline targets. Whereas Phoenix moved defenders round like chess items, the Spurs didn’t discover their approach till the final 100 seconds of the body. The Suns left it up in assists (9-3) and factors (31-24) whereas Wembanyama went scoreless.
San Antonio ramped up its defensive depth to begin the second interval, and a Harper and-1 introduced them again inside six momentarily. Then Phoenix resumed its three level barrage to push their lead out to as a lot as 17. A pair of threes from Harrison Barnes and Julian Champagnie stemmed the tide a bit. Late within the half, Citadel and a number of other Suns had phrases over a sequence of possessions, with Coach Mitch Johnson and Citadel being assessed technicals. San Antonio went to the half down 16.
O’Neale and Booker and practically the remainder of the Suns that performed within the third linked with accuracy to effecctively put the sport out of attain. Similar to the primary two quarters, San Antonio put up factors late within the quarter, however didn’t make a noticeable dent within the sizeable deficit. Bryant put up a handful of factors in his restricted motion, however the Spurs went to the fourth nonetheless down 24 with seven of Wembanyama’s teammates scoring extra discipline targets than his one lone make.
In a ragged begin to the sport, San Antonio dedicated turnovers on their first two possessions, whereas Phoenix didn’t rating till 2+ minutes in. Vassell linked twice from comparable spots close to the appropriate elbow. Grayson (with a graying mane!) hit a 3 and blew by his defender for a one-handed slam to place the Suns up. As he has completed in prior video games, Harper made an impression by toughing out an and-1 and briefly stabilizing the halfcourt execution. Phoenix’s sixth three and Booker’s fadeaway jumper made it 25-14. San Antonio dedicated to difficult the passing lanes and pressuring ballhandlers extra and was ready to attract itself inside 5. The Spurs went to the second fortunate to be down seven.
Nick Richards, Phoenix’s backup huge, outplayed his Spurs’ counterparts to assist push the Suns’ result in 13. Outdoors of some bursts of Harper’s particular person brilliance, San Antonio fell additional behind on account of their offensive futility. Richard’s ninth and tenth factors got here on an influence dunk on the rim. A Barnes nook three was matched seconds later by a Booker three. A Ryan Dunn lay-up put the Suns up 18 heading into the break.
Grizzled veteran Royce O’Neale led the bucketmaking brigade within the third quarter and the Phoenix lead ballooned to 23. Citadel paired a 3 from the Sunburst brand and a tipback to trim that deficit to 16. By the halfway level of the stanza, Harper and Johnson had put up extra discipline purpose makes an attempt than Wembanyama. Booker’s transition lay-up fadeaway provided Phoenix its greatest lead at 26. Citadel’s second three was matched by an Allen three. After three quarters, the place the Suns shot 60% on 3’s AND 2’s, the Spurs remained buried.
For the Suns fan’s perspective, please go to Shiny Facet of the Solar.
San Antonio continues its Western street journey Wednesday evening at 9:00 PM CDT – taking over Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers.
