In a “must-win game,” it takes all hands on deck to steer the ship in the right direction. Whether or not the NBA Cup is worthy of must-win status is up for debate, but in a game that could have decided
whether the San Antonio Spurs advance past group play, the team received contributions up and down the roster. Everyone played a part in San Antonio’s 115-102 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
It started with the Spurs’ only available star. De’Aaron Fox has re-established himself as an All-Star caliber player in Victor Wembanyama’s absence. He’s scored 20 or more points in his last 6 games, and dominated the game on Wednesday with 37 points, 8 assists, and 3 steals. He weaved his way around the Blazers’ pressure with his tight handle, finished in the paint with floaters and jumpers, and found his open teammates after drawing defensive attention. In the fourth quarter, it was Fox who helped the Spurs pull away.
When Fox wasn’t acting as the Spurs’ offensive engine, Devin Vassell was knocking down tough shots. It was Vassell’s best shooting night of the season, with 23 points while making 9 of his 17 shots. Keldon Johnson and Julian Champagnie both had double-doubles, including some big-time offensive rebounds that kept possessions alive for San Antonio. Harrison Barnes made some key shots, and Luke Kornet fought hard in the paint with 3 blocks and 4 offensive rebounds.
Mitch Johnson played 11 players, and just about all of them did something notable. It’s not just about having depth; it’s the quality of that depth that determines how far a team goes. The team has held up in the absence of some of the Spurs’ best players. They are now 4-1 without Wembanyama and 3-1 without Stephon Castle this season. The recent stretch proves that this roster is strong enough to keep the Spurs in contention without their stars and could be a true playoff contender when they return.
Takeaways:
- Dylan Harper returned after missing the last 10 games. He logged 17 minutes, scoring 7 points, adding 2 steals and 2 assists in the win. Harper looked like he had to shake off a bit of rust and get his legs back underneath him. He got rejected by Robert Williams a few times on drives to the rim. There were glimpses of what makes Harper such a fun guard to watch. He used a burst of speed in transition to get an easy dunk and knocked down a corner three. He didn’t play alongside Fox very much, but that’s a look the Spurs could utilize more to get multiple playmakers on the floor.
- The Blazers got a lot of open three-point looks against the Spurs on Wednesday, but couldn’t convert enough of them to make them pay. Portland shot 25% from three. Only three players knocked down a triple for the Blazers, including Deni Avdija, who hit 5 of them. Toumani Camara was 2-11 from deep, Jerami Grant was 0-5. Giving up open looks continues to be an issue for San Antonio, but it ceases to be one when teams aren’t making them.
- The Spurs are in an interesting situation with Jeremy Sochan. He’s unquestionably one of their best defenders. He’s a strong energy player who has good cutting and finishing ability. His lack of shooting just prevents him from fitting into the current team so much. The Spurs have tried to play him as a small-ball center, which hasn’t been very successful. He only played 8 minutes on Wednesday, and was benched for the entire second half so Kelly Olynyk could back up Kornet in his stead. He’s at his best playing alongside Wembanyama as a cutter and perimeter defender. San Antonio has yet to find the best way to use him. He’s too talented just to ride the pine. They’ll need to find a way to get him involved eventually.
- Carter Bryant needs some G League time. I’m not sure that getting 8 minutes of NBA experience a night is really that beneficial to his development. He’s struggled to contribute offensively, and his defense hasn’t stood out in the same way it did in college and summer league. Some time in Austin would allow him to play major minutes and be more of a focal point offensively. It’s a tradition that many Spurs rookies have experience, and paid off for players like Keldon Johnson and Dejounte Murray. It would be good to see Bryant get more opportunities in the G once the team is back to full health.
