The San Antonio Spurs chopped down the Atlanta Hawks, securing their eighth dwelling victory earlier than happening the highway for his or her subsequent 4 outings. The guests had been are tied for essentially the most highway wins within the East (7), however they had been unable to cease the Spurs once they pushed the tempo, they usually couldn’t dangle when issues sped up.
All 5 Spurs starters scored inside the first 5 minutes, however they discovered themselves in a shootout with the Hawks. San Antonio’s transition assault and 3-point taking pictures carried them many of the first, however they had been gradual to defend the arc, getting stung by six treys as they went into the second body down six.
Keldon Johnson canned three 3-pointers and slashed to the lane, and the remainder of the staff adopted his lead, feasting within the paint like they had been at a vast buffet. They briefly took an 18-point lead as De’Aaron Fox (13), Julian Champagnie and Ok.Johnson broke into double-figure scoring.
The Spurs went to intermission forward by 14 and with twelve 3-pointers, a season excessive for a half. The transition offense was flowing, not like the half-court, however that weak point wasn’t as pronounced as a result of they acquired to the road 13 occasions, making 10.
The Spurs subsequently began the third on a roll, however they eased off the gasoline and it turned yet one more turd quarter. Atlanta’s 3-pointers introduced them inside putting distance, they usually outscored San Antonio by 11 within the third body.
The screen-roll protection supplied little resistance, they usually had been additionally put in a scramble as Atlanta briefly reclaimed the lead, just for Devin Vassell to counter with a fast 3-pointer. He began a 17-4 run, and one of many moments that gave them an emotional carry was Champagnie the lane for an emphatic dunk. The opposite was David Jones Garcia, getting a number of steals, together with an thrilling pick-6. The protection picked up considerably and within the final 5 minutes the full-court press wreaked havoc on Atlanta’s offense.
The Spurs received 135-126, making it their third in a row, splashing 17 3-pointers and shattering their earlier season excessive of 126 factors set on Nov. 8.
