San Antonio started their home game of four games with an encouraging victory, despite having few important players. Spurs overcame an initial deficit and hurt Pelicans with different players asserting themselves throughout the game to ensure victory. The San Antonio bench helped the team’s cause with a 34-20 lead.
DeMar DeRozan of the Spurs (32 points, 11 assists, 2 steals), Dejounte Murray (17 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals) led a balanced score for the winners. The New Orleans team with Brandon Ingram (29 points and 5 assists) and Zion Williamson (23 points and 14 rebounds) was the pace of the visitors, who had a 53-38 advantage on the rebound.
Comments
- In the absence of Keldon Johnson, Trey Lyles, in this rare beginning, designed the unenviable task of trying to slow Zion Williamson down. Lyles made two impressive runs for the hoop in the second half, which ended with sweaty baskets and did yeoman’s work on the boards.
- Sean Elliott called on Jakob Poeltl and Pelicans center Steven Adams “two centers that LOVE the film set”And bringing his shooting preferences back to the“ 1950s ”
- With how long Steven Adams has inflicted damage on the San Antonio front line, it is hard to believe that he is only 27 years old.
- Floppy Play: Although a little slow in development, a transfer from Poeltl resulted in a beautiful Lonnie Walker IV float at the beginning of the opening verse.
- Game Sequence: Dejounte Murray neatly connected on one wing three, snatched Williamson’s ball at the other end and found a Walker IV for a transition layup.
- Game Sequence – Part 2: Murray stole the ball from an unconscious Nickeil Alexander-Walker and eurostepped around him for a dynamic e-1.
- Williamson’s shot chart, where most marks are around the edge, resembles a child’s projectile vomit. His ability to beat other players to rebound on his second jump is unmatched and he must be responsible for at least 1⁄4 of your points.
- Luka Samanic won some playing time in the first half and forced a Williamson turn at the base line and almost converted a dunk that would have knocked fans out of their seats.
- In LaMarcus Aldridge’s first action after his hip rehabilitation, he hit his first three shots from outside, but settled on the painting and the free-throw line and found he was going the distance in the second half.
- Murray’s world-class ability to finish in traffic is wonderful to see and a boon to our last-minute options.
- HEB / Spurs Commercials: “Someone else smells burned skin? ”Delivered by Patty Mills is still one of the most memorable lines in Spurs’ commercial history – but right behind“ Your hand man! It’s like you’re part of a bear! “joke to your ex-teammate.
- Brandon Ingram of New Orleans defeated the All-Star against the Spurs at the start – winning 13-9 in the opening minutes. The Spurs greats have accumulated a handful of fouls, while Murray and DeRozan were the only Spurs to have found success on the pitch. Patty Mills’ hot shot helped keep things closed. and the unnamed Pelicans Ingram or Ball struggled to score. Despite the initial deficit, San Antonio left the first quarter up 33-32.
- Both teams exchanged buckets at will to start the second period. Walker IV and Mills’ third three, respectively, helped San Antonio gain an advantage. Willy Hernangomez and Williamson swarmed offensive signs for New Orleans’ monstrous success. A Murray wing jumper gave the Spurs their biggest advantage soon with six. Poeltl was accused of a dubious third foul defining Oscar Eric Bledsoe’s flop at the end of the frame. DeRozan’s way of playing gave his team more comfort and the Spurs set up a 23-11 lead on the bench for a 67-61 lead at halftime.
- Adams and Williamson continued to celebrate in painting and offensive boards and the Spurs’ leadership quickly disappeared. DeRozan attacked New Orleans at the other end to increase the margin. A jump pass worthy of DeRozan’s Top 10 to Walker IV for a prominent jam reached 80-72 halfway. Mills’ fourth 3-point scorer gave San Antonio his first double-digit lead and he entered the final score with 93-83.
- San Antonio failed to hit several open kicks and a technical foul on coach Stan Van Gundy and the Pelicans capitalized on a 5-0 streak. Williamson, intending to dirty the Spurs’ front line and put his opponents on the penalty spot, attacked the ring early and often. A Kobe-like fad by Ingram reduced Spurs’ deficit to three. DeRozan and Bledsoe engaged in a ‘whatever you do, I can do better’ competition and combined each other’s strokes. After Williamson missed two critical free throws, Poeltl was called in for another dubious missed ball foul – the fifth – on the much heavier Adams. Williamson scored Aldridge’s fifth foul shortly afterwards.
- In the final minutes, New Orleans lost a challenge from the coach in a lack of blocking by Ingram. After Aldridge’s two free throws, Williamson converted two of his own. DeRozan converted a tall pick-and-roll ‘Manu-Splitter’ and found Poeltl to bury. Lyles caught what appeared to be the first defensive rebound for San Antonio after Adams failed. Williamson made a tortuous tray. After Lonzo Ball’s failure in the transition, Murray secured the rebound and converted 1 of 2 from the line. Murray then avoided the Pelicans’ defenders after a rebound, found Mills on the sideline and gave DeRozan for the decisive dunk.
For the Pelicans fan perspective, visit The bird writes.
Spurs assume Kyried Irving and James Harden and the Brooklyn Nets Monday evening at 7:30 pm CT.