Short-handed Spurs defeat the depleted Thunder in the second Emirates Cup match

11/20/2024 08:04 AM

The Spurs 3-point shooting and late defense powered the group to the win

The San Antonio Spurs hosted the understaffed Oklahoma City Thunder in their second Emirates Cup game of the season, taking victory in a fourth-quarter thriller without the services of Victor Wembanyama or Devin Vassell. The Spurs were sharper from the field, plus bigger and stronger despite being careless with the ball.

The offense started off choppy, committing four turnovers in four minutes, but paint attacks from Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes settled the attack. Then Keldon Johnson poured in two trifectas, and the rest of the squad made five out of 12 ventures. The crew's off-ball screening opened up avenues for cuts and drives. Charles Bassey also provided good minutes off the bench, recovering an offensive rebound, scoring twice through contact and blocking a shot to spark transition.

Defensively, the Spurs were late to disrupt three-point shots, allowing five of eight makes, and couldn't stop Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams from dribbling to their lower sweet spots. The latter rattled off five of nine field goals, and the Thunder converted 65.2 percent of shots in the period. The first quarter ended with the guests ahead 35-32.

Then, the defense tightened up, allowing two of 11 baskets in the first five minutes of the second quarter. SGA had seven points but on 25 percent shooting because the Spurs switched and contested promptly. The intensity lasted throughout the interval.

But the offense got stuck in the mud until Johnson came out blasting like Two-Gun Tommy in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas nearly halfway in. He swished three trays and got free for a dunk off the double screen. And Zach Collins finished both of his tries up close.

At halftime, the Spurs were ahead 60-57. Additionally, the team had 22 paint points, two on the break, 12 on extra tries, two off turnovers and 30 from the bench.

Afterward, Gilgeous-Alexander sensed weakness in the Spurs' defense. He piled on more damage from the middle and long range plus exposed the perimeter for Luguentz Dort's 3-pointer with dribble penetration. But the Spurs keyed in well on the other Thunderites, permitting two of 14 buckets.

The protections, in combination with top-shelf ball movement, Bassey's two lobs, and Johnson's sixth 3-pointer and pair of freebies, helped the Spurs build a 16-digit lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The advantage grew to 21 points two minutes later. Yet, OKC's Williams, Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace pushed the Thunder past life support with transition baskets and moves in the half court, cutting the difference to six marks with two-and-a-half minutes left. The Thunder also won a challenge that denied Barnes from going to the line.

From that point, Chris Paul and Collins traded baskets with Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort. Then Castle had a pivotal stop on SGA in the open court under the rim.

The Spurs won 110-104. Additionally, the team had 36 paint points, six on the break, 21 via second chances, 12 off turnovers and 42 from the bench.

At the postgame presser, interim coach Mitch Johnson was asked about sticking with Castle down the stretch. He said, "There's no way to get experience without experience. It's one of those tricky deals, and he made great plays. He obviously made some younger plays, but so did the older guys. We just have to continue to be solid and not skip steps, be consistent, trust the game plan and the process."

Next, Barnes answered questions. He said Bassey's energy is infectious. "We talk a lot about next man up mentality, and we've had a little bit of an injury bug, but I thought Charles came in tonight, and he affected the game in a huge way."

Castle said the team was focused on stopping the bleeding in the fourth quarter. "[It was us] just really zoning in defensively on how we can stop them from scoring. I feel like, pretty late in the fourth, we did that."

Play of the game

Johnson got loose downhill after setting the double screen, dropped Aaron Wiggins with his dribble and nearly decapitated SGA at the cup.

Game Notes

• The Thunder's lack of size due to the absences of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, who hasn't played this season, allowed the Spurs to capitalize on attempts in the restricted area. The Silver and Black made eight of 10 shots in that spot in the first half and six of 10 in the last two quarters. Defensively, Collins and Bassey's size bothered the Thunder near the basket. Collins' best play was blowing up SGA's drive to the hoop. Bassey's top sequence was tracking Caruso's dribble from the cup and denying it at the rim.
• The defense also did a sharp job of guarding without fouling, allowing seven free-throw attempts. But the transition protections need to get back quicker, as it allowed 24 points.
• This was the fourth time this season the Spurs have committed at least 20 giveaways (22), but the first occasion they won being so careless.
• Champagnie (2), Johnson (6), Barnes (3) and Chris Paul (4) were the only Spurs to record multiple triples.
• The Johnson experience means every night there will be some questionable shot selection. He matched a career-high with six 3-pointers but attempted three off-rhythm trays that likely made every Silver and Black supporter cringe. He must get over that because they are not winning plays.
• Paul jammed his left thumb on SGA's arm, trying to elude him. He had it taped up before the fourth quarter started and played the last 10 minutes of the match. At the postgame presser, coach M. Johnson was asked about the severity of the jam. He said, "We'll see," and he hasn't spoken to Paul about it.

Next game: Vs. Utah Jazz on Thursday