OffRtg: 118.2 (6) DefRtg: 112.2 (5) NetRtg: +6.1 (7) Tempo: 101.1 (16)
The Spurs got here up quick within the Emirates NBA Cup remaining on Tuesday, however they’ve received their final six video games that rely towards the regular-season standings. They’re second within the West and one among three groups that rank within the high six on each ends of the ground.
Three takeaways
1. The Spurs hadn’t performed De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper and Stephon Citadel collectively by the primary three video games that each one three had been accessible. However when the Cup remaining went to clutch time, it was these three plus Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama who had been on the ground collectively. That group couldn’t get the job accomplished (it was outscored, 14-8, within the remaining 4:09) in opposition to the Knicks, however it may very well be the lineup that the Spurs name on in large moments going ahead.
2. There have been no large moments over their subsequent three video games, with the Spurs main all three by not less than 24 factors. That they had everyone accessible for each video games of their Thursday-Friday back-to-back, they usually had been their two greatest wins (mixed margin of 53 factors) since opening night time in Dallas.
3. Wembanyama has been again for simply 4 video games (that rely), and he’s performed simply 81 minutes (all off the bench) in these 4 video games. However that’s all it’s taken for the Spurs to climb from sixteenth (earlier than his return) to fifth in factors allowed per 100 possessions. They’ve allowed simply 88.3 per 100 in these 81 minutes with him on the ground, with the context being that 39 of the 81 got here in opposition to the Wizards.
Developing: The Spurs and Thunder are enjoying 5 instances this season as a result of they met within the NBA Cup semifinals. All 5 conferences are within the span of six weeks (Dec. 13 to Feb. 4), and the second and third are this week because the Spurs are in Oklahoma Metropolis on Christmas. Wembanyama had 42 factors, 18 rebounds and 4 blocks in his Christmas debut, a three-point loss in New York final 12 months.
