Without three of their key players last night, Josh Richardson, Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan, and in the midst of the Josh Primo affair, recently sacked after accusations of exhibitionism, Spurs still managed to chain a fifth success in seven games. Simply their best start to the season since 2018!
Without fear and without reproach
Expected at the bottom of the standings to recover Victor Wembanyama in the next Draft, the Spurs again thwarted the odds last night with a second victory in three games against Minnesota (107-98).
“I didn’t know they were so fearless”explained Gregg Popovich after the game. “Maybe when you don’t really know what you’re doing, you just jump in and do it. We just played. »
Despite 19 points from Karl-Anthony Towns in the first half, and 18 points from Anthony Edwards in the second, Spurs held on until the end for their third meeting in seven days against Wolves. Although lacking rotations, without Isaiah Roby (sick) either, San Antonio was able to count on its leaders, including Keldon Johnson who finished at 25 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds, with a career record in assists .
“We were missing players but we are a family. We believe in each other. At the moment, we have injuries and Blake [Wesley] got injured during the game too. But we continued to fight, we continued to play as a team,” reacted Keldon Johnson at a press conference. “It’s hard but when you see the team succeed, the guys we spent all summer working hard with, succeed in big games, it’s a lot of fun. »
A stainless culture
Defeated from the outset at home against the Hornets for their “opening night”, the Spurs have since made only one misstep, against the Wolves in Minnesota. While the big teams such as the Warriors, the Wolves or the Clippers are still in full adjustment, the young Spurs do not ask questions. They are going!
“It says a lot about the leadership we have in the team, starting with Pop but also with the many veterans who are part of it. Everyone is truly altruistic,” appreciates Doug McDermott. “It’s true off the pitch and it’s true on the pitch, in the way we play together. No matter who’s on the pitch, we’re always going to practice the Spurs style of play. »
Author of a big game, with 23 points in 25 minutes off the bench, “McBuckets” goes even further. The veteran sniper delights in the collective basketball of the Texans.
“When you have a good culture, it translates on the ground. As a 30-something who has already played for six or seven teams, I have never had so much fun. It is truly a pleasure to be part of this team. »
| Shots | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | bp | Int | CT | party | Points |
| Keldon Johnson | 7 | 33.5 | 45.5 | 43.5 | 80.0 | 0.6 | 4.9 | 5.4 | 4.1 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 23.9 |
| Devin Vasell | 4 | 32.5 | 40.9 | 39.4 | 75.0 | 0.3 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 19.8 |
| Jakob Poeltl | 7 | 29.4 | 66.1 | 0.0 | 58.6 | 4.3 | 7.1 | 11.4 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 14.1 |
| Tre Jones | 7 | 31.0 | 37.8 | 37.5 | 90.6 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 13.0 |
| Doug Mcdermott | 7 | 20.9 | 43.9 | 45.2 | 83.3 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 11.7 |
| Josh Richardson | 6 | 24.4 | 48.0 | 45.2 | 100.0 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 11.7 |
| Zach Collins | 7 | 16.2 | 57.1 | 46.2 | 57.1 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 8.3 |
| Jeremy Sochan | 6 | 23.5 | 46.7 | 23.5 | 40.0 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 8.0 |
| Blake Wesley | 2 | 11.7 | 66.7 | 66.7 | 50.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 8.0 |
| Joshua Primo | 4 | 23.3 | 34.6 | 25.0 | 77.8 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 7.0 |
| Keita Bates-diop | 7 | 10.1 | 54.5 | 28.6 | 100.0 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 6.6 |
| Malaki Branham | 1 | 19.0 | 14.3 | 25.0 | 100.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 5.0 |
| Romeo Langford | 4 | 14.9 | 43.8 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 3.8 |
| Isaiah Roby | 5 | 10.4 | 42.9 | 33.3 | 33.3 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 3.0 |
| Gorgui Dieng | 4 | 6.9 | 37.5 | 16.7 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1.8 |
