The Spurs just made a statement, and only a portion of the basketball world saw it. The Warriors/Spurs game was on league pass, but it feels like a matchup that demands national TV treatment for the vast majority of their games in the future.
That could just be the electricity felt after watching San Antonio get their biggest win of the year, but it felt like the heavyweight battle we needed, unlike the Mike Tyson/Jake Paul farce the public was forced to endure.
It was a poor shooting night from the outside, but the defense rose to the top. Chris Paul didn’t play as large of a role, but his fingerprints are all over this team, and Harrison Barnes is having his best stretch of the early season. They’re leading by example, and San Antonio’s youth are picking up what the vets are putting down.
The game ended 104-94 after San Antonio found themselves down by a large margin once again. Whereas in the past, they hung their heads when the opposition leaped out in front, this year’s team is about fighting until the last whistle. The veterans they added in the summer are a large reason for that, but tonight, the young guys did a ton of heavy lifting with a huge assist from Harrison Barnes.
Spurs are starting to understand how to win
Defense, defense, defense. As one of the youngest teams in the league, their offense is going to be inconsistent at times. They’ll go cold from the perimeter, and fans will grunt and groan as they continue hoisting shots from deep. That’s the way the game has evolved. However, fans are allowed to express angst—the players, on the other hand, are not.
Staying locked in during every moment of the game sounds like it should be obvious, but it’s not—not for young players. Their emotions get the best of them and their play fluctuates because of it.
That’s what makes Stephon Castle so special—at least, it’s one of the things that make him special.
The Spurs’ first-round pick continues to make a name for himself by making the right plays at the right time, but what’s even more impressive is his defense. The rook drew the short straw with the Steph Curry assignment, but to him, it was no different than any other night. He was in Curry’s jersey all night, following him around ball screens, denying him the ball and disrupting Curry’s rhythm.
The game isn’t won without that effort. Everyone knows how deadly Chef Curry is when he gets going. That’s why it’s paramount he doesn’t get the opportunity to take your soul because he’ll make Mortal Kombat’s Shang Tsung jealous. As a four-time champion, Curry is as patient as they come and when the fourth quarter came around, he was still ready to seal the deal.
He nailed a big-time three to close the gap after the Spurs tried to extend their lead late in the game. For a moment, there was no telling what was going to happen. The greatest shooter of all time can never be ruled out of a game. He’s broken the hearts of too many over the years. Fortunately, San Antonio avoided his night-night celebration and left the Warriors victims of their own lullaby.
Victor Wembanyama came back after missing the last three games due to a knee contusion, and having the Alien back in the lineup was a good feeling. He dropped 25 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal and three blocks. His presence in the paint was undeniable defensively, and in the second half, his offense caught up to his generational defense.
The Spurs won with defense, poise, and perseverance. They played another full 48 minutes and kept their feet to the pedal as the game waned, never losing hope. It’s another great display of Spurs basketball, and fans couldn’t be happier.
San Antonio has reached their first three-game win streak of the season. They have two days off before their next game against the Utah Jazz. It will be the fourth game against Utah to conclude the season series. It’s also San Antonio’s next Emirates NBA Cup match, and it will be played on the road.
