Reloaded - The San Antonio Spurs

[BobbyColtrane]

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Spurs' big comeback falls short

SAN ANTONIO– In a wild second half, Houston built a 19-point lead in the third quarter, only to nearly give it all back in the fourth. With the Spurs shorthanded due to the DeMar DeRozan trade earlier in the day, Houston outscored the Spurs 40-24 in the third, and capped it with a 70-foot heave at the buzzer to make it 99-80 entering the fourth.

Gregg Popovich responded by playing a lineup of all backups in the 4th quarter – Jakob Poeltl, Luka Samanic, Rudy Gay, Marco Belinelli and Patty Mills. The “bench mob” mounted a furious comeback, and had a chance to send the game to overtime before a late turnover cost SA the game.

“They did a great job coming in and competing at a very high level,” Popovich said after the game.

With the rotation scrambled, San Antonio finished with 5 players in double figures, and another five that had eight or more points. “It was a great team effort by the guys,” Spurs forward Rudy Gay said. “I wish we could have finished (the comeback) off.”

San Antonio chipped away at the Houston lead all quarter, and a Rudy Gay three with 1:40 left made the score 115-109. After a Russell Westbrook turnover, Gay got a fast break dunk to make it 115-111 with just over 30 seconds remaining. After a miss by Houston, rookie Luka Samanic (9 points, 3 assists in the 4th) made two free throws to make the score 115-113 with 9.2 seconds left. Harden was immediately fouled and missed the first free throw, leaving the door open for SA to force overtime with a three.

Down 116-113 with 6.3 seconds left, San Antonio couldn't get a clean look and turned the ball over as time expired, securing the win for Houston.

Up Next: San Antonio faces the 11-9 Sacramento Kings in a matchup of early-season surprise teams.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Harden tries to dance on Murray, but Dejounte picks his pocket for a layup

Houston Rockets (7-13) at San Antonio Spurs (13-9)
Dec 3, 2019 1 2 3 4 Final Houston 31 28 40 17 116 San Antonio 29 27 24 33 113 Top Performers Houston Rockets James Harden 28 PTS, 6 AST, 5 STL Russell Westbrook 26 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 4 STL San Antonio Spurs LaMarcus Aldridge 15 PTS, 8 REB	Team Stats Comparison HOU SAS FG Made-Att 47-101 47% 41-80 51% 3PT Made-Att 7-24 29% 14-30 47% FT Made-Att 15-25 60% 17-20 85% Rebounds 49 57 Assists 32 31 Turnovers 7 24 Steals 20 6 Blocks 1 5

[marshdaddy]

What’s your record at now? Do you think you’d move Rudy to a contender for a few firsts if the deal were there? If he’s got another year left on his deal I’d think a team like the Clips or Lakers or Heat would fork over a first at least.

[dfsJunkie]

^ his record is at the top part of the scoreboard. He's 13-9 now.


Bench mob! Love Patty Mills, how's he been so far? Sounds like it was a fun game. You did a great job limiting their threes.

[BobbyColtrane]

Quote: Originally Posted by marshdaddy

What’s your record at now? Do you think you’d move Rudy to a contender for a few firsts if the deal were there? If he’s got another year left on his deal I’d think a team like the Clips or Lakers or Heat would fork over a first at least.

Hell no this is Spurs culture baby! We never trade anyone!!

I told a friend of mine recently that when you join the Spurs its like joining the Supreme Court. You're going to be there forever with few exceptions haha.

I may consider that next season- he will be expiring then. I absolutely love playing with him.

Quote: Originally Posted by dfsJunkie

^ his record is at the top part of the scoreboard. He's 13-9 now. Bench mob! Love Patty Mills, how's he been so far? Sounds like it was a fun game. You did a great job limiting their threes.

If Harden hadn't made that 70 foot heave at the 3rd quarter buzzer, I might have won.

Patty is great, I traded him in my 2K19 franchise and regretted it. Great guy, very good shooter, and the last link to a Spurs championship on the roster (although at this point I still have Belinelli). I'll probably keep him as long as I can.

[BobbyColtrane]

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Spurs beat Kings in Carter's debut

SAN ANTONIO– New acquisition Wendell Carter Jr. made his debut and the Spurs got a win over the Kings. Carter played 21 minutes off the bench and finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists.

“He has the potential to be a very good player,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “We have a lot to learn about each other, but he had a terrific debut.” For now, Carter is expected to come off the bench with LaMarcus Aldridge continuing to start games, if play fewer minutes in a suddenly-crowded center rotation with Carter and Jakob Poeltl.

San Antonio's young backcourt held their own against the Kings' De'Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield. Dejounte Murray finished with 18 points while Derrick White added 17. Sacramento was led by Hield's 24 points.

The Spurs now have 5 days off before they play again, and no doubt they will use that time to get their new piece acclimated to their program.

Up Next: The Spurs will face the 11-10 Cleveland Cavs in their only trip to the AT&T Center this season.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Derrick White works around Buddy Hield and the defense for 2 of his 17 points

Sacramento Kings (11-10) at San Antonio Spurs (14-9)
Dec 6, 2019 1 2 3 4 Final Sacramento 16 26 25 27 94 San Antonio 18 28 24 31 101 Top Performers Sacramento Kings Dejounte Murray 18 PTS, 5 AST Derrick White 17 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST San Antonio Spurs De'Aaron Fox 24 PTS, 4 REB, 11 AST, 5 STL Buddy Hield 20 PTS	Team Stats Comparison SAC SAS FG Made-Att 37-94 39% 33-74 45% 3PT Made-Att 6-30 20% 16-26 50% FT Made-Att 14-23 61% 22-27 81% Rebounds 48 64 Assists 24 27 Turnovers 9 25 Steals 16 9 Blocks 3 2

[BobbyColtrane]

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Spurs blow out Cavs for second-straight win

SAN ANTONIO– The San Antonio Spurs seem to be adjusting well to life without DeMar DeRozan, winning their second consecutive game with new acquisition Wendell Carter. San Antonio crushed Cleveland in three quarters, building a 23-point lead entering the final period. No Spurs starter played in the fourth quarter.

The Spurs were led by reserve guard Bryn Forbes' 17 points, as he got shot 5-8 from three point range. The blowout victory allowed Wendell Carter to play 26 minutes, finishing with 16 points 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks in a solid all-around effort.

“I thought he did a great job of playing within himself,” Spurs guard Derrick White said.

Up Next: The Spurs will travel to Phoenix to face the 11-13 Suns.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Murray gets the steal on Darius Garland and shuffles it ahead for the Lonnie Walker dunk

Cleveland Cavaliers (11-14) at San Antonio Spurs (15-9)
Dec 12, 2019 1 2 3 4 Final Cleveland 23 24 19 27 93 San Antonio 31 26 32 17 106 Top Performers Cleveland Cavaliers Wendell Carter Jr. 16 PTS, 10 REB, 3 AST, 2 BLK Bryn Forbes 17 PTS, 5-8 3PA San Antonio Spurs Jordan Clarkson 17 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST, 3 STL	Team Stats Comparison CLE SAS FG Made-Att 39-85 46% 41-80 51% 3PT Made-Att 5-16 31% 13-30 43% FT Made-Att 10-15 67% 11-15 73% Rebounds 44 50 Assists 18 30 Turnovers 19 20 Steals 15 15 Blocks 5 9

[kibaxx7]

Nice victories. I hope you can keep Forbes!

[marshdaddy]

Nice wins, granted over some lesser competition. Like where you’re headed with this group tho. Feels like you might be able to hang around for the 8 seed and then develop from there.