Coming off a nail-biting win against the Phoenix Suns, the Spurs wrapped up their mini homestand against the Indiana Pacers. The Spurs would be without Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell due to their respective injuries. As a result, Dylan Harper made his first career start. The Spurs started with their foot on the gas pedal, outscoring the Pacers 42-29 in the first quarter. After taking a 13-point lead into halftime, the Spurs led by 15 after the third. The Pacers, ironically enough, were able to keep
pace with the Spurs’ scoring, but could not get a stop on defense. The Spurs ultimately won 134-119.
Dylan Harper made his first career start and dropped 24 points (9-13 FG, 5-5 FT), four rebounds, and three assists. Dyl stepped up in Castle’s place in the starting lineup and played like a starting veteran guard. He looks unguardable in transition, and always seems to make the right dribble and slasher moves. He also got to the free-throw line and made all of his free throws. Shooting 69% from the field is more than an encouraging sign for this team. The 20-year-old continues to show that he has the talent to interchange with De’Aaron Fox or Castle to command the floor.
EUROSTEP AND-ONE! Dyl pulls out the crossover dribble in transition, creates space, and then eurosteps into an and-one finish over Aaron Nesmith!
STAR TYPE OF PLAY! This time in transition, Dyl crosses over Quenton Jackson and rises up for a one-handed slam!
Keldon Johnson dropped 24 points (10-12 FG), four rebounds, and four assists. Like Harper, KJ led the team in scoring. In just 25 minutes, KJ shot 83% from the field, including 67% from three-point land. No matter what the Pacers’ defense threw at him, KJ was simply on fire. 16 of his 24 came in the first half off of bully ball and three-point splashes. Sixth Man of the Year? Spurs fans seem to think so.
Victor Wembanyama dropped 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists, five blocks, and a steal. Wemby shot 44% from the field, grabbed both offensive and defensive boards, dished out lob dimes, and shut down the Pacers in the paint. Wemby is such an anomaly that even when he misses a shot, he easily grabs his own miss and puts it back in, sometimes in one motion. With 11 games remaining, Wemby’s case for MVP and DPOY continues to heat up as the highlights keep adding up.
Smooth ball movement! Wemby cuts to the paint and receives a pinpoint dime from Harrison Barnes for the easy slam! HB finished with 12 points, four rebounds, and a dime.
Lobbed it up from Helotes! Fox lobs it up from the logo with one hand to a cutting Wemby who elevates for a monster jam!
Lob City Dimer! Wemby and Carter Bryant run the P&R, resulting in an alley-oop connection with CB as the finisher!
FRENCH VANILLA IS SERVED! Wemby dominates this sequence by stuffing Jay Huff’s shot attempt and then lobbing it up for Luke Kornet in transition for the alley-oop connection! Kornet finished with nine points, eight rebounds, four assists, and a block.
POP THE CHAMPAGNIE! Wemby finds Julian Champagnie in the corner, who then drives in and finishes past Nesmith for a poster slam!
UNSTOPPABLE. Wemby misses the floater, corrals his own miss, spins off of Pascal Siakam, and puts it back in with a slam!
UNSTOPPABLE AGAIN! Wemby posts up Nesmith and steps into the paint through contact, slamming it home for the and-one! Too big and too strong!
All in all, this was another take-care-of-business game for the silver and black. Even when they started slacking with a lead, the Spurs were able to keep a sizeable lead for the entire game. Even when several starters are out, this team is still dangerous and tough to guard. With only 11 games remaining, the Spurs will look to lock up the second seed, or barring an OKC Thunder collapse, possibly take over the first seed. This young, contending team has already made lifelong memories for Spurs fans everywhere, and the playoffs will add even more.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
The Spurs travel to Miami to take on the Heat this Monday at 6:00 P.M. (CST) on Peacock/NBCSN/FDSN-SW.
