What is the story about?
Usually, these Victor Wemanyama – Giannis Antetokounmpo match-ups have been must-watch TV, but with the latter out along with several more members of the Bucks’ main rotation, it was another methodical Spurs blowout. Things were clicking for everyone not named Wemby in this one, and they used a full team effort to put the Bucks away 127-95, despite them trying to make things interesting with a hot third quarter this still didn’t even put a dent in the Spurs’ lead.
Stephon Castle led the way with an
efficient 22-10-10 triple-double, and while it wasn’t his most efficient shooting night ever on just 7-21 shooting with no threes, Wemby still had 23 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists. Six Bucks scored in double figures, lead by 18 from Gary Trent and 15 from Myles Turner.
Observations
- Am I the only one who hates this 2 PM Saturday time slot for NBA games? This may sound weird coming from someone who likes lazy weekends and watches plenty of Saturday afternoon sports during college football season, but this just doesn’t jive with NBA ball for me. (Maybe it’s also in the back of my head that Spurs and matinee games never go well together, but the early tip-off didn’t bother them today.)
- I love a good revenge shot. Despite the score, it was a physical game with Wemby ending up on the floor multiple times. At one point in the first quarter, the Bucks had a 5 on 4 advantage because Myles Turner had knocked Wemby over on defensive rebound, and he was able to sprint down the court unimpeded for a dunk. But the Spurs were quickly able to quiet the crowd as Castle jab stepped Turner to send him backwards before burying the spot-up three. Overall it was a solid first quarter for the Spurs, who gradually built the lead up to 37-24 with methodical team work, 61% shooting and 19 combined points from Castle and Devin Vassell.
- The shots weren’t falling for Wemby in this one, but his passing game was on point with three assists in the first half, including a Manu-esque behind-the-back pass to Castle for a dunk and alley-oop pass to Carter Bryant. Usually Wemby is on the the receiving ends of oops, but a recurring development lately has been him using his gravitational pull to find his open teammates, and despite his height, he’s surprisingly accurate as an oop passer. The Spurs still led by 22 at halftime despite just five points from Wemby.
- Wemby finally got his first block early in the second half, which was one of his signature high-point blocks above the backboard square. I guess the refs are still new to seeing this from Wemby, because the called goal tending, which Mitch Johnson immediately and successfully challenged.
- The Bucks threaded to make things interesting with a hot start to the third quarter by exploding from three (they hit 8 in the quarter after only 4 in the first half) and cutting the deficit to 13, but in yet another sign of how far this Spurs team has come, they didn’t panic or fold, but instead came out of timeout and promptly went on an 8-0 run spearheaded by two Vassell threes and a Dylan Harper lay-up. Despite the offensive onslaught from the Bucks in that quarter, the Spurs still managed to outscore them by one by dominating the paint.
- Luke Kornet finally attempted his first three of the season at the third quarter buzzer, and it circled around the rim and out. His reaction was typical hilarious Kornet, with him kneeling over with a smile a clinched fists, wishing so badly that a shot that didn’t matter would have gone in.
- The Spurs opened the fourth on an 11-0 run with Wemby presumably trying to improve his numbers to make his MVP case, as he drove with determination and usually ended up getting fouled. He was laughing through it all, but otherwise it felt weird that he was still out there and playing so hard despite it being a blowout. He finally exited with under six minutes to go.
