The Spurs are on a 2 Game Winning Streak and Back to .500 at 8-8 - Game 15 Spurs Beat Thunder 110-104;Game 16 Spurs Comeback and Beat Jazz 126-118

Here is the Game Recap for Game 15:
NBA Game Recap Spurs v Thunder 110-104 W

In a hard-fought battle on the court, the San Antonio Spurs emerged victorious over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Emirates NBA Cup, securing their first ever win of the tournament. 

Leading the charge for the Spurs was Keldon Johnson, who poured in an impressive 22 points, while veteran forward Harrison Barnes added 20 points of his own. 

Despite missing star rookie Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell due to leg injuries, the Spurs showcased their depth and resilience, rallying from an early deficit to take control of the game. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a standout performer for the Thunder, scoring a game-high 32 points, while Jalen Williams chipped in with 27 points in a valiant effort. However, the Thunder's comeback bid in the final minutes ultimately fell short, as the Spurs maintained their composure and closed out the game with a 110-104 victory. 

A key moment in the game came when Johnson threw down a thunderous one-handed dunk, sparking a 25-3 run that propelled the Spurs to a comfortable lead early in the second half. Veteran point guard Chris Paul also made his presence felt, scoring 14 points and dishing out 11 assists, including a timely 3-pointer to extend the Spurs' lead late in the game. 

With Wembanyama and Vassell sidelined, the Spurs' depth and team chemistry proved to be the difference, as they overcame the absence of their star players to secure the hard-earned win. 

Meanwhile, the Thunder were hampered by the loss of Chet Holmgren, who is expected to miss two months with a fractured hip, further complicating their efforts to mount a comeback. Despite the setback, the game showcased the competitive spirit and talent on display in the Emirates NBA Cup, setting the stage for an exciting and unpredictable tournament ahead. 

Here is The Points Created for this Spurs win over the Thunder. 
Points Created Game 15 Win Spurs v Thunder 110-104 W

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Here is the Game Recap for Game 16:
Game Recap Spurs v Jazz 126-118 W

In a thrilling NBA matchup on Thursday night, the San Antonio Spurs overcame a significant early deficit to rally and defeat the Utah Jazz, 126-118. Leading the charge for the Spurs was veteran forward Harrison Barnes, who delivered a standout performance with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Rookie sensation Stephon Castle also made his presence felt, contributing 18 points to the Spurs' offensive onslaught. The win marked San Antonio's second straight victory without the services of star player Victor Wembanyama, who along with Devin Vassell, sat out the game due to minor knee injuries. Despite the absences, the Spurs showcased their depth and resilience, with Zach Collins and Chris Paul also providing valuable contributions of 18 and 13 points, respectively, along with Paul's impressive 10 assists.

On the opposing side, the Utah Jazz were led by Lauri Markkanen's 27-point performance, while Keyonte George added 19 points. However, the Jazz struggled to maintain their early momentum, as they committed 11 turnovers in the second half after only three in the first, allowing the Spurs to mount their comeback. San Antonio's third-quarter surge, outscoring the Jazz 34-22, was a pivotal turning point, and the Spurs carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, tying the game at 89 and ultimately securing a 41-29 scoring advantage in the final period to seal the victory.

The game's key moment came late in the third quarter when Spurs center Charles Bassey, who finished with a career-high six blocks, made a crucial defensive play by stuffing Kyle Filipowski, then showcased his athleticism by tiptoeing along the baseline to save a possession, which he capped off by scoring on an alley-oop from Tre Jones. Bassey's series of impactful plays helped cut Utah's lead to 88-82 with just over a minute remaining in the quarter, setting the stage for San Antonio's dramatic comeback.

The win was a significant milestone for the Spurs, as they did not earn their eighth victory of the season until January 20th of the previous year, underscoring the team's impressive early-season progress and resilience in the face of key absences.

Here is The Points Created for this matchup:
Points Created Game 16 Win Spurs v Jazz 112124

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This is a really good read on how the Spurs shield Victor Wembanyama from taking too many physical hits in the paint. 

Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama - ESPN Story by Michael C. Wright

Since Wembanyama has missed the past few games, the Spurs have been reliant on mostly Zach Collins, & Charles Bassey, with some Sandro Mamukelashvili contributions. How have they been playing during this time? The short answer is really well.

It is so unusual for fans to say that these guys should be traded because they aren't good. They are solid when on and have been more than just serviceable. They've made an impact. It doesn't mean that they replace Wembanyama, far from it. It just means that GM Brian Wright was wise to sign these Bigs to back him up. I will wait for Monday's release of data so we can get a larger sample size, especially for Bassey. Look for that in an upcoming blog.

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Spurs play the last of their 3 game homestand against Top-Seed Golden State Warriors
Can they stop Steve Kerr's Warriors led by Steph Curry, who is expected to play? Let's see if Wembanyama returns. I expect a great game and if I am too slow to post this before the end of that game, I will add the score to this one but do The Points Created on the next blog.

SPURS BEAT WARRIORS 104-94 with an epic 4th Quarter Comeback. That's now 3 Game Win Streak and they are at 9-8 for the season with 65 Games to go in the Regular Season. (66 if they make it to the NBA Cup Final)