After a heartbreaker in Sacramento, The San Antonio Spurs had been in a position to take house a cushty win in opposition to the Golden State Warriors 126-113 in San Francisco. Saturday’s victory was the primary matchup of a two-game sequence that may end in San Antonio on Monday night time.
Coming into the sport, the Spurs had been 0-1 on the season in opposition to the Warriors struggling a loss again in November. Sadly on this go round, each groups entered the matchup with out their greatest gamers.
A Steph-less Warriors would step on the courtroom in opposition to an much more compromised Spurs crew that might lack Victor Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, and Cedi Osman.
The Shorthanded Spurs Come Collectively
Regardless of lacking their greatest two gamers on the crew, the Spurs had been in a position to rally collectively and switch in an entire crew effort to cease the Warriors at house. 5 completely different Spurs hit double figures, and all 10 gamers that suited out for the crew recorded minutes. With monstrous bench performances from Keldon Johnson (22 factors, 11 rebounds) and Dominick Barlow (19 factors, 8 rebounds, 4 assists), the crew was in a position to capitalize in opposition to the Warriors sustaining a double-digit lead comfortably ranging from the second quarter of the sport.
The Spurs additionally recorded their greatest three-point proportion efficiency of the season. The Spurs had been taking pictures at 52%, whereas the Warriors shot 33% from the three-point line.
The Spurs shot a brand new season excessive 52% from three tonight.
Additionally they scored 51 factors from the 3PT line, considered one of their larger video games in made 3s for the season.
— Paul Garcia (@PaulGarciaNBA) March 10, 2024
Starters, Jeremy Sochan (20 factors) Julian Champagnie (17 factors), and Malaki Branham (20 factors) all turned in spectacular performances as properly, and the increase from the bench made the engine run that a lot smoother.
After the sport, Popovich went on to say that Dominick Barlow and Devonte Graham turned in his favourite performances of the night time.
“Dom and Devonte’ had been my favourite gamers. Devonte hasn’t performed a lot, he got here in there and gave us an actual increase, settled issues down and Dom was actually strong at each ends of the ground all night time lengthy.”
Devontae Graham had a strong push for the crew with eight factors, and two rebounds in 11 minutes of play.
Pop on Dominick Barlow and Devonte’ Graham off the bench tonight: “Dom and Devonte’ had been my favourite gamers. Devonte’ hasn’t performed a lot, he got here in there and gave us an actual increase, settled issues down and Dom was actually strong at each ends of the ground all night time lengthy.”
— Paul Garcia (@PaulGarciaNBA) March 10, 2024
Spherical Two In San Antonio
With San Antonio on the verge of setting a document for the fewest wins in franchise historical past, the crew should win 6 video games out of the remaining 18 video games to keep away from that mark.
The Golden State Warriors will head south to San Antonio for a second matchup on Monday night time.
In the meantime, the Spurs will be capable of play at house over their subsequent eight video games. This consists of the I-35 sequence that may have Austin host Spurs within the Moody Middle, the place their G-League associates play.
