After two gutsy wins in Phoenix, the San Antonio Spurs bought a style of their very own drugs towards the Toronto Raptors. Regardless of main by 20 factors within the third quarter, San Antonio misplaced to the Raptors 123-116 in time beyond regulation.
It took awhile for the Spurs to get going within the first quarter, however as soon as they took the lead, they didn’t give it again till time beyond regulation. Early within the sport, the Spurs have been efficient turning the Raptors over and stopping their inside assault. Offensively, they have been attacking the basket and using Victor Wembanyama within the choose and roll. The Spurs outscored the Raptors 58-44 within the paint and prompted them to show it over 15 occasions.
Wembanyama was dominant defending the rim within the first half. He blocked a career-high 5 photographs, usually occasions swallowing up makes an attempt on the rim. This block on OG Anunoby was notably spectacular, as Wembanyama is ready to take up the contact and nonetheless block the shot.
Keldon Johnson led the best way for the Spurs offensively. He had 26 factors, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and a pair of steals. Johnson was relentless attacking the rim, and confirmed some nice contact on a number of floaters over the Raptor’s size.
The Spurs have been cooking offensively with a number of excessive performers. Malaki Branham scored 16 factors whereas Zach Collins had 21 factors, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. They shot 49.5% from the sphere and 31.3% from deep. Defensively, they held Toronto to 35 factors within the first half, and simply over 30% capturing from the sphere.
They confronted a really completely different Toronto workforce within the second half. The Raptors got here out aggressive, utilizing their size and power to harass the Spurs ball-handlers with strain and assault the paint.
“We knew they’d come again within the second half with that strain,” Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich advised reporters after the sport. “Hopefully sooner or later we deal with {that a} bit higher.”
The Spurs turned the ball over 16 occasions, usually getting disrupted by Toronto’s strain protection. The Raptors performed a full court docket man-to-man press for a bulk of the second half.
On prime of that, the Raptors caught fireplace within the second half, hitting 12 photographs from deep. They shot 39.6% from three general. When Wembanyama was off the court docket, they attacked the Spurs drop protection, and bought straightforward appears for Dennis Schroeder and Jakob Poeltl within the choose and roll. Schroeder had 24 factors, Poeltl scored 16 and had 10 rebounds.
It was the Raptors younger star who made the most important distinction within the second half. Scottie Barnes has been on a roll as of late, and stored it moving into San Antonio. He had 30 factors (27 within the second half), 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and three blocks. He hit 5 three-pointers, punishing the Spurs for leaving him open from deep.
Regardless of all the Raptors benefits, the Spurs nonetheless have been only a rebound a approach from surviving their surge. After Johnson hit two clutch free throws to place the Spurs up two, the Raptors rushed down the ground and located an open Schroeder for 3. His shot clanked off the rim, the place Wembanyama appeared to have pulled down the rebound. Cedi Osman inadvertently ripped the ball from Wembanyama’s grasp, resulting in a game-tying put again by Anunoby.
The Raptors went on to dominate the time beyond regulation interval. Outscoring the Spurs 11-4.
“It’s a younger group enjoying a really expertise group,” Popovich mentioned. “It’s like the most important small workforce you’ll be able to think about, Toronto is with their size and athleticism. Down the stretch, scoring-wise, we had somewhat extra hassle with their size, their aggressiveness, their capability to get in passing lanes. I feel it slowed us all the way down to the purpose the place our offense wasn’t easy.”
This gave the impression to be an instance of a younger workforce, lacking one in all their greatest gamers, failing to execute down the stretch. Clearly there are nonetheless classes to be realized with 76 video games left within the common season. The Spurs fall to 3-3, and get an opportunity to bounce again on Monday in Indianapolis towards the Pacers.
Sport Notes
The Spurs didn’t get the clutch efficiency from Wembanyama that they’ve develop into accustomed to. He didn’t sub again into the sport till the three-minute mark of the fourth quarter, and didn’t get a single shot try in these minutes. The Spurs tried to search out methods to get him the basketball, however Toronto was keying in on him, ensuring he didn’t have an opportunity to attain. The rookie nonetheless had a formidable sport, placing up 20 factors, 9 rebounds, 4 assists to associate with his 5 blocks. He had all the Spurs factors within the time beyond regulation interval. San Antonio nonetheless has some work to do discovering methods to get him the ball within the clutch.
It was not an important sport for both of the Spurs level guards. Jeremy Sochan had 4 factors, 5 assists and three turnovers, whereas Tre Jones had 6 factors, 6 assists and three turnovers. They each have been -7 of their minutes. The Raptors strain appeared to trouble each of them, as they couldn’t discover a circulate within the second half. The Spurs will search for extra consistency from that place transferring ahead.
Branham bought out of his droop and crammed into the beginning lineup properly. Pop praised his defensive effort, in addition to his capability to make photographs. Branham was deadly within the mid-range, the place he scored most of his 16 factors. San Antonio had him working of screens and handoffs, getting him straightforward appears within the half court docket. It’s a promising signal from the sophomore who struggled to start out the season.
Play of the sport
This cross-court move from Wemby to KJ on the shot clock buzzer was the second the place it appeared like San Antonio would clutch this one out. It was an important second.
Subsequent sport: at Pacers on Monday
The Spurs will fly to Indianapolis to tackle the Pacers Monday night time. Popovich advised reporters he has no plans to take a seat anybody on the back-to-back.
