Again from what we’ll name the In-season Event break, the well-rested, wholesome Spurs had been contemporary off loads of follow, able to put the final 14 video games behind them and get again on the successful monitor, however they must do it in opposition to the considerably shocking high group within the West: the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Each groups appeared rusty out of the gate, with the rating sitting at simply 4-1 within the Spurs’ favor after three minutes earlier than they lastly discovered some life. The Spurs did nearly all of their injury down low, with 20 of their 22 factors coming from the paint (the opposite two had been free throws). Zach Collins had 8 of these factors, however the Spurs additionally shot 0-6 from three. The Timberwolves weren’t significantly better however nonetheless had 3 threes within the quarter, and that together with a fast six-point go off the bench from Naz Reid noticed Minnesota a 25-22 lead on the finish of the primary quarter.
The taking pictures struggles continued for each groups to begin the second quarter, extra so the Spurs in opposition to the Wolves’ zone protection. Nevertheless, after a Gregg Popovich timeout, Doug McDermott and Devin Vassell lastly broke the ice from three for the Spurs, with Vassell’s second one tying issues up at 36 apiece with underneath six minutes to go and kicking off a 7-0 run to place the Spurs again in entrance. McDermott offered two extra threes, and with Rudy Gobert spending a lot of the primary half on the bench in foul bother, the Spurs continued to assault down low to guide 53-46 at halftime, capped by Keldon Johnson working the courtroom for a layup on the buzzer.
However, as is at all times the case, the true take a look at would come within the third quarter, the place the Wolves are third greatest group within the league whereas the Spurs are (unsurprisingly) the worst. It was the identical ol’ Spurs wrestle to begin the second half with no effort on protection and turnovers on offense, forcing a Pop timeout after Minnesota opened on a 7-0 run. Total, it was a 12-2 Wolves run earlier than the Spurs obtained 5 factors fast off a few steals to briefly retake the lead, however one other 7-0 Minnesota run pressured one other Pop timeout. The lead was stretched out to as a lot as seven earlier than Vassell obtained going once more with seven straight factors to tie issues again up at 71 apiece heading into the fourth quarter.
Sadly, the momentum was nonetheless with the opponent. After buying and selling the lead for a couple of minutes, the Wolves began getting sizzling from three, occurring a 16-2 run to get to the lead out to 12 at 91-79. Even after they missed, Gobert was there to wash issues up, whereas on the opposite finish the Spurs saved launching and lacking threes. Minnesota was content material to maintain buying and selling buckets with the Spurs from there, handing them a 94-102 loss and lengthening the dropping streak to fifteen.
Whereas not an sudden end result and much from their most irritating loss, it was unlucky that the Spurs lastly held an opponent to a low scoring night time (by at the moment’s requirements, at the very least) however couldn’t take benefit on the opposite finish. It is going to take an excellent recreation on each ends and no extra second half meltdowns for the Spurs to finish this downward spiral.
Sport Notes
Vassell moved again to the beginning lineup for the primary time since November 14 after lacking three video games with a sore groin and coming off the bench for the final 5. Additionally, in a really curious transfer by Pop, he moved Jeremy Sochan (who’s wholesome) to the bench for under the fourth time in his profession, however not within the change you’ll suppose. Most would have anticipated the transfer to be so as to add some extent guard in Tre Jones, however as a substitute, Cedi Osman was Sochan’s substitute, making a line-up that hadn’t recorded a single minute collectively earlier than tonight. That group ended up being outscored 17-21 within the recreation, successful their first quarter stint 10-9 however beginning the third quarter 7-12.
A giant motive for the Spurs’ halftime lead (past some tough taking pictures from the Timberwolves, together with lacking a number of open threes) was for as soon as, they weren’t the group battling turnovers. They solely had three to Minnesota’s 9, and whereas the Spurs had solely managed two extra factors off turnovers regardless of the disparity, in addition they had much more possibilities to attain due to that and 7 offensive rebounds, taking pictures 22-53 within the half vs. simply 16-39 for the Wolves. It was a unique story within the second half, with the Spurs committing 7 turnovers in comparison with simply two for the Wolves.
It was a tough night time for Victor Wembanyama, who hadn’t performed in almost per week after lacking their final recreation and the lengthy break. The Spurs’ shaken-up lineups failed to seek out him all night time, and on the uncommon event they did, he suffered from butterfingers, with passes going by means of his arms and out of bounds. Total, he scored simply 12 factors to go along with 10 rebounds, 1 help, block and steal.
Play of the Sport
Per ordinary, the second half was a stinker, so how about Johnson at the very least making an attempt to present the Spurs momentum on the half by being conscious of the clock, outhustling the protection and big-bodying his strategy to the bucket on the buzzer?
Up Subsequent: Friday vs. Chicago Bulls
The Spurs can have an opportunity to keep away from tying their franchise document of 16 straight losses in opposition to a Bulls group that as struggled total however could also be discovering their stride, having received three straight. (Hmm, a struggling group discovering their stride simply earlier than arriving in San Antonio, the place have we seen that earlier than?) Tip-off will probably be at 7:30 PM CT on Bally Sports activities.
