There was no relaxation for the weary because the travel-worn Spurs had been proper again out on the street after a one-game cease at dwelling the night time earlier than. This was second time in just a little over two weeks that the Spurs traveled from San Antonio to an East Coast sport the subsequent night time, dropping an hour within the course of, however this time their opponent didn’t have a relaxation benefit, with the Hawks taking part in in Charlotte the night time earlier than. As a substitute, the Spurs picked up proper the place they left off final night time: dominating an inferior opponent to the purpose that they may relaxation everybody within the fourth quarter.
Each groups appeared just a little off early, however the two Spurs visiting their hometown had been feeling it. Devin Vassell scored 9 of the Spurs first 11 factors on 3-4 taking pictures from three, and Stephon Fort added one other to get the Spurs up 18-11 just below six minutes in. Victor Wembanyama got here in and instantly made an impression defensively, and Fort continued getting what he wished within the paint with the Hawks missing any rim protectors. By the tip of the quarter, the Spurs had been up 32-19 on a 9-0 run, with their two Georgians combining for 21 of these factors to single-handedly outscore Atlanta.
The Spurs continued to place it on the Hawks to open the second quarter, with Dylan Harper utilizing his velocity and ending skill to get proper by Atlanta’s leaky protection. Wemby was additionally cooking in his second stint on the ground, scoring 11 factors within the interval (it ought to have been 13, however his final bucket was dominated a cost though it clearly wasn’t). Harrison Barnes lastly broke by means of the glass ceiling to hit his first three-pointer in 4 video games, and the Spurs had their highest lead to this point when the halftime buzzer sounded, 68-44.
After 4 straight video games of fine third quarters, Mitch Johnson wasn’t about to let his staff revert again to dangerous habits, so he known as a timeout after they had been outscored 7-2 to open the second half. They responded by attacking the rim extra, and Vassell went again to doing a little dwelling cooking with a dunk and three. Wembanyama additionally introduced his personal prompt the bench with a few blocks, a 3 and spotlight reel dunk, and shortly the Spurs had stretched the lead again out to 26 on an 8-0 run. They continued to stretch the lead with Wemby clicking on all cylinders and located themselves up 30, 102-72, having received their fifth straight third quarter.
The fourth quarter was prolonged rubbish time, though the starters bought a pair extra minutes first to stretch the lead as excessive as 38. The shorthanded Hawks needed to preserve taking part in rotation gamers, and so they began chipping away on the lead just a little towards the Spurs’ third unit, however it was too little, too late. Lindy Waters and Jordan McLaughlin had a number of well timed buckets, and the Spurs received 126-98. It’s technically their second five-game successful streak of the season for the reason that Cup Finals don’t depend within the standings. The opposite got here in the beginning of the season, and that was their first since 2019.
Up subsequent: Sunday at Washington Wizards
If the Spurs win this sport (and there’s no purpose they shouldn’t), it is going to be their first time successful six straight video games for the reason that 2016-17 season, once they had two 9-game successful streaks.
