Wins without two of your best players are important, especially for a young team not familiar with playoff contention. On Tuesday, the Spurs dispatched the challenge from the Memphis Grizzlies with De’Aaron Fox scoring a game-high 26 points, and Harrison Barnes stepped up (as he usually does when the team needs him) with 23 points and dialing in 4-8 from downtown. Keldon Johnson continued leading the bench mob with 18 points and led the team in rebounds with 7.
In what seems like star-crossed superstars
in Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox having a very small sample size of playing together, the Spurs at least can relish highlights like below where Fox picks a pocket and takes it the other way for the flush.
Fox averages almost 1.5 steals per game in his career, but hopefully that number nudges up when Wembanyama is patrolling the paint. Whether the Spurs play slow or at a fast pace, an easy steal for an easier bucket is always preferable.
It seems like Barnes has been in the league forever (13 years in fact), but the man is *only* 33 years old. Compared to really grizzly vets like LeBron James (39), Chris Paul (39), Al Horford (38), Mike Conley (37), and Steph Curry (37) to name a few, Barnes seems very young in comparison.
This sick crossover and jam at the bucket would indicate those knees still have hops.
Fox’s bodacious (words we need to bring back like cowabunga) spin and jumper fondly reminds me of Tony Parker’s moves in the paint. Having this extra one-on-one dimension to any offense is a bonus, and rest assured Fox will bust a move that keeps the offense exciting, fresh, and phat. Nineties slang is the best. You can’t convince me otherwise.
KELLY OLYNYK, WELCOME TO THE SPURS! I know he’s played 5 games already for the Silver and Black, but it’s worth shouting out the Spurs’ newest big man. In 18 solid minutes, Olynyk made an impact to the tune of 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. He also had 4 fouls, which suggests some aggressive defense. Either way, it’s nice to see Kelly O shoring up center minutes from the bench.
“Busy hands are better than [a] babbling mouth.” In this case, Fox could do both with the steal and setup to Jeremy Sochan for the open three. Additionally, I did not know Fox’s nickname is “Swipa,” and that is troubling for someone who’s seen too much Dora the Explorer against his will. I will count this as the one new thing I learned today and remain blissfully and willfully ignorant to everything else.
Sending everyone out on a reminder that these (our) Spurs will have to remain vigilant in a season sure to have challenges, injuries, and the ball bouncing the other way. But 10 wins through the first 14 games is nothing to scoff at. Onto the next!
If you missed the game because you were too busy taking in Studio Ghibli Fest 2025, here are the full-game highlights:
Next up, the Spurs take on the Atlanta Hawks at the Frost Center on Thursday, November 19, 2025.
