San Antonio at Minnesota, Final Score: Timberwolves hold on for a 112-110 victory over the Spurs

12/30/2024 12:56 AM

In a game that was close throughout, the home team made just enough plays to take a two point win

In a hard-fought game, the physicality of the home team kept the Spurs from getting any breathing space after taking a lead in late in the game, and the Timberwolves used the smart play of Donte DiVincenzo to give them just enough of an edge to eke out a home win and spoil the Spurs attempt to even their record on the current road trip to 2-2.

Victor Wembanyama had another superlative game, with 34 points and 8 rebounds. His presence on defense changed so much that can't be measured in the box score, and it was almost enough for a win for the Silver and Black who also got solid games from Devin Vassell and Harrison Barnes. Jeremy Sochan had a down offensive game, and his missed shot as time was running out might be what people remember, but it was a shot he had to take as DiVincenzo denied the passing lane and forced him take it.

This Spurs are finding out that winning on the road takes a level of execution that is precise, and that they aren't quite there yet. They are going to keep improving, and this is just the sort of game that I can see the team winning later on in the season, having learned the hand lessons of the close losses.

Observations

• Against the Nets it took the Spurs a whole quarter to score their first 11 points. It took them less than 4 minutes today as the Spurs were sharp at the start.
• The game was delayed about ah hour because the Timberwolves' City Edition Court had to be replaced because of a problem with the painted surface. Since the Timberwolves were using the regular court instead of the City Edition court, the Wolves wore home whites and the Spurs wore road blacks. It felt so nice to see that.
• Charles Bassey entered the game with 4 minutes left in the first quarter and just like that, the small ball era was over. Zach Collins also escaped from the coach's doghouse to get onto the court.
• The Spurs led 33-25 after the first quarter, in a reversal of their poor start from the last game. Unfortunately, that didn't carry over to the second as the Wolves scored 13 straight and took the lead.
• The Spurs lost composure as the Twolves clogged the paint as they turned an 8 point deficit into a 15 point lead in the second quarter. Wembanyama hit a late triple and Minnesota led 45-35 at the half, outscoring the Spurs 32-12 in the quarter.
• The Spurs used to be a team whose bench could dominate the other teams subs. Tonight the Wolves backups shredded the Spurs backups. Keldon did his best in the second half to reduce that.
• Minnesota's physical defense is something the Spurs haven't seen much this year. The intensity of the game was almost like a playoff game at times, rare for an early season match.
• Wembanyama adjusted to the physical play in the third quarter and took midrange opportunities as the Spurs cut into the lead. They finally took the lead late in the quarter on a Vassell triple, and the score was tied at 82 going into the fourth.
• An 8-0 run to start of the fourth gave the Spurs a quick advantage, which was quickly erased by a TWolves run. Naz Reid committed a technical foul, which is understandable, because defending against Wembanyama is a pretty frustrating assignment.
• I like the ability to challenge calls, but when they reverse an obviously good call to a no call I don't even know why it exists. Often it just seems like it's kind of arbitrary.
• It came down to the final possession for the Spurs, down 111-109 with 25 seconds left. Gobert tried to deny the entry pass and fouled Wemby, who hit one of two. The Spurs had to foul and DiVincenzo returned the favor with one of two. With 12 seconds left, the Spurs got a Sochan look that missed badly, and the Spurs lost 112-110.
• Stephon Castle hasn't been in the closing lineup lately. Has Coach Johnson forgotten about him? His length might come in handy on some of these late set plays.

The Spurs have one more game to play in 2024, against the Los Angeles Clippers on New Year's Eve at 6:00 PM in the Frost Bank Center. That should give you plenty of time to watch the Silver and Black end the year on a positive note before the midnight toast for Auld Lang Syne.