The Silver and Black did it once more. San Antonio beat the Thunder for the third time in as many matchups, and appeared totally in management for many of the recreation en path to a 117-102 win. It was a formidable efficiency that confirmed off their bettering protection and their multi-dimensional assault, for which the reigning champs don’t appear to have a solution.
Anybody anticipating a defensive battle was in all probability shocked by absolutely the shootout that was the primary quarter. The Thunder executed completely on their option to simple buckets, and the Spurs relied on the shotmaking of their guards and ground spacers to answer an opponent who was pressuring the ball and packing the paint. The threes have been falling, and everybody appeared to have the new hand. Ultimately, each groups slowed down a bit of, but it surely was a busy begin that confirmed this was a particular recreation for each squads. OKC was forward when the mud had settled, however as soon as Victor Wembanyama took the courtroom, the guests got here raging again. Wemby obtained to the road, Keldon Johnson went proper into Chet Holgrem inside, Dylan Harper confirmed off his footwork, and the second unit did an excellent job of continuous the work a scorching scorching De’Aaron Fox did early. After one, San Antonio was up 5.
After a high-scoring begin, two of the perfect defensive groups within the league confirmed off that aspect of their video games. Fox and Harper saved cooking, however issues obtained chippy and a bit of sloppy after some bodily play. The chaotic stretch that ensued, with missed calls and wild drives, benefitted the Thunder, who’ve been making groups unravel for the previous two seasons with disruptive protection, however the Spurs didn’t fold. They settled down, performed ugly however efficient offense when Citadel dealt with the ball, and restricted turnovers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander obtained going after a quiet first body, however the Silver and Black didn’t panic. It helped that a few of OKC’s shooters have been ice-cold, particularly Alex Caruso, who couldn’t make Wembanyama pay for leaving him open to assist. The depth remained excessive all through, however San Antonio stayed in management and headed into the break up 9.
The expectation heading into the second half was that the defending champs would begin making the Spurs play their recreation. A number of compelled turnovers and, crucially, some extra threes falling to go along with their offensive rebounding would have had them proper again in it. However as has been the case when these two groups face one another, the Thunder didn’t appear to be themselves. Stephon Citadel was affected person within the choose and roll and obtained some early buckets to quiet the gang, and some exterior pictures went in for the Spurs. Via all of it, OKC appeared visibly pissed off and began fouling. There was a lull within the Silver and Black’s offense after they tried to run it via Wembanyama as an alternative of the guards, however even whereas trying stagnant within the course of, the outcomes have been usually open pictures. The protection remained fierce, permitting simply 19 factors. The roaring run that may make the sport shut by no means got here, because the lead grew to 16 heading into the fourth.
In opposition to most groups, that may have been it. The Thunder will not be most groups, nonetheless. They tightened up on protection, pressuring ball handlers and upping their physicality, daring the officers to blow their whistles. At occasions, it labored nicely for them as first Citadel after which Fox made errors or appeared rattled, fueling the house group’s transition assault. The skin pictures began to fall extra usually as nicely. It simply wasn’t sufficient for OKC to mount a comeback, as a result of the Spurs at all times had a solution. Generally it was a Harper drive. Others, a well timed timeout by Mitch Johnson or a Wembanyama three. In the long run, the group with the perfect report within the league, which many noticed as a risk to interrupt the report for many wins in NBA historical past, appeared helpless. San Antonio cruised to a cushty victory after 48 minutes through which they merely performed higher basketball.
There aren’t any daggers within the third quarter, however this Harper dunk off a lovely Wemby dish, coming after a stretch through which each groups struggled to attain, felt prefer it meant extra than simply two factors.
Subsequent recreation: vs. Utah Jazz on Saturday
The Spurs will return to San Antonio to begin a three-game homestand. Their first opponent would be the reeling Jazz. It ought to be a win, so long as the Silver and Black take their opponent critically.
