Coming off a tricky loss to the Golden State Warriors this previous Wednesday, the Spurs took the courtroom Friday for an opportunity at revenge. This time, it was an NBA Cup sport, so extra stakes had been on the road. After an unpleasant first half, each groups had been battling forwards and backwards at a better tempo. The whole fourth quarter was full of big momentum shifts. Victor Wembanyama pulled off a spotlight alley-oop poster on Draymond Inexperienced that lit the Frost Financial institution Middle on hearth. Besides that the referees dominated that the foul occurred on the ground, and the alley-oop didn’t depend. Nonetheless, the Spurs nonetheless managed to construct a 10-point lead. Nonetheless, identical to on Wednesday, the Spurs couldn’t include Stephen Curry. After the Warriors managed to make it a one-possession sport within the remaining minutes, each groups transformed clutch photographs. A pivotal second late within the sport occurred when the Warriors had been down by one and had the ball. Steph Curry led a quick break and threw a behind-the-back go to Jimmy Butler for what seemed like a wide-open layup. Wemby proceeded to dam Butler’s layup try off the glass, and the Spurs had the ball. After De’Aaron Fox missed a midrange jumper, the Warriors corralled the board and handed it to Curry. Curry then drew a foul on Fox and drained each free throws to take a one-point lead. With six seconds on the clock, the Spurs had an opportunity to win the sport on the buzzer. Fox took the inbounds go from past half-court and tried a contested jumper over Gary Payton II. The shot bounced on the rim and out, and the Spurs misplaced a heartbreaker 109-108.
Victor Wembanyma led the way in which with a double-double: 26 factors and 12 rebounds to go together with 4 assists, three blocks, and a steal. Vic was decided within the fourth quarter, delivering spotlight performs and key buckets when the offense went stagnant. He was additionally very clutch defensively, however sadly, he didn’t get a contact on the final three offensive possessions. As time goes on, he’ll study to demand the ball in late-game conditions just like the Chicago sport.
Caption says all of it. Inexperienced learns the onerous approach to not go up with Wemby as he data his 97th consecutive sport with a block.
HOW DO YOU DEFEND THIS? Wemby tosses the ball off the glass and slams it down! He has the potential to have probably the most self-lobs of all time!
Draymond, what number of instances does Wemby have to show you this lesson? Wemby rejects Draymond not as soon as, however two extra instances on the rim!
Although this bucket didn’t depend (it ought to’ve), take a look at the way in which Vic colleges Draymond with the spin and one-handed alley-oop end! This made the Frost Financial institution Middle explode!
CLUTCH WEMBY DEFENSE! As Golden State was about to about to take the lead with a Butler layup, Wemby got here out of nowhere to stuff him on the glass! At this second, many Spurs followers thought this was the play that nearly assured a victory…
De’Aaron Fox dropped a double-double: 24 factors and 10 assists to go together with 4 rebounds, 4 steals, and a block. De’Aaron was strong via the primary three quarters, however late within the fourth, the place he’s identified to shine in clutch conditions, he had a tough couple of possessions. With a couple of missed midrange jumpers and a turnover, he nonetheless had an opportunity to win it on the buzzer. Sadly, the shot didn’t go in. Whereas many Spurs followers hoped for Wemby to get the final shot, some lamented Fox’s resume and didn’t suppose it was the worst shot. Regardless, search for De’Aaron to shake off extra rust towards his former crew.
Too open! De’Aaron knocks down the wide-open three early within the first. He was 4 of eight on threes within the sport.
Julian Champagnie dropped 14 factors and two rebounds off the bench. Julian seemed like one of many solely position gamers to point out up for the silver and black. He caught hearth within the second half, together with flattening this three within the fourth!
Stephon Fort dropped 13 factors, 9 rebounds, six assists, a steal, and a block. A considerably quiet sport offensively, Fort had the powerful project of guarding Curry. Although the outcome was not welcomed, the extra Steph guards the crew’s finest gamers, the extra he’ll change into comfy holding his personal on protection.
LOOK OUT BELOW! Steph barrels via and finishes sturdy with two fingers for security!
Harrison Barnes dropped seven factors, 4 rebounds, an help, and a steal. Although he performed 28 minutes, HB solely tried 5 photographs. Nonetheless, one in every of them was a classic baseline rim operating jam! Rise up unc! Search for him to show it on versus his former crew!
Keldon Johnson dropped 4 factors, 5 rebounds, three assists, and a block. KJ contributed in methods aside from scoring, however he additionally struggled defensively. His coronary heart bleeds silver and black, however it’s additionally onerous to not discover the defensive lapses. Hopefully, the spark plug can plug within the Spurs’ depth towards Sacramento.
Protection to offense! After the Fort steal, Devin Vassell lobs it as much as KJ for the alley-oop end!
Proper place, proper time. KJ takes the bounce go from Wemby for the simple end!
Luke Kornet dropped 4 factors and 5 boards. Whereas normally an important backup for Wemby, his incapability to protect the perimeter makes him virtually unplayable towards a crew just like the Warriors. Nonetheless, search for him to proceed to shine towards groups that lack pick-and-roll protection.
Talking of P&R, the Fort to Kornet connection continues to be alive and properly!
These had been back-to-back powerful losses to a playoff-contending (and getting older) crew. Each video games had been winnable, however had been misplaced as a consequence of careless turnovers and horrid perimeter protection. It was good to see Jeremy Sochan get extra taking part in time, however he can’t be the end-all be-all answer. It’s nonetheless solely November, however groups which have nice shooters will make the most of this crew’s lack of potential to protect the three-point line. For instance, if you’re Mitch Johnson, you can not enable this crew to play drop protection towards somebody like Steph Curry. Nonetheless, there have been nonetheless thrilling moments from this crew that had you wanting extra. The Frost Financial institution Middle was rocking, and Wemby didn’t look deterred towards an all-world defender. Let this be a lesson and transfer on.
Lastly, listed here are the complete sport highlights.
The Spurs tackle the Sacramento Kings on Sunday at 3:00 P.M. (CST) on FDSN-SW.
