OffRtg: 118.8 (5) DefRtg: 112.5 (5) NetRtg: +6.2 (6) Tempo: 100.7 (18)
The Spurs’ eight-game profitable streak (in video games that depend towards the standings) got here to an finish on Saturday, when De’Aaron Fox missed their recreation in opposition to the Jazz. However they nonetheless have extra wins in opposition to the Thunder than the remainder of the league, having beat the champs on a impartial court docket, at house and on the street.
Three takeaways
1. The Spurs are actually the one workforce that ranks within the prime 5 on each ends of the ground. They knocked the Thunder out of the highest 5 on offense by holding them to simply 107.0 factors per 100 possessions over three conferences within the final 16 days. That features simply 88.9 per 100 in Victor Wembanyama’s 70 minutes. The Thunder common 51.3 factors within the paint per 100 possessions general, however simply 33.3 per 100 with Wembanyama on the ground.
2. The protection is aided by the Spurs’ lack of turnovers in opposition to the Thunder. Their two wins final week had been two of the seven instances that the Thunder have pressured fewer than 14 turnovers per 100 possessions. Fox had a quiet night time scoring (six factors) on Tuesday, however he led the way in which with 29 factors on Christmas, and he has an help/turnover ratio of 16/2 over the three video games. General, the Spurs’ offense has been at its greatest (119.4 factors scored per 100 possessions) with Fox on the ground.
3. However the loss to Utah with out Fox was extra in regards to the protection. Wembanyama was within the beginning lineup for the primary time since his month-long absence, however the Spurs allowed 127 factors on 99 possessions, their worst defensive recreation of the 19 that Wembanyama has performed in.
Arising: The Spurs’ two losses in opposition to the Japanese Convention (one which counts within the standings, one which doesn’t) have come in opposition to the Cavs and the Knicks. They’ll have alternatives to avenge them each this week.
