The San Antonio Spurs returned fresh to Golden State, but the AT&T Center did not help them more than the entire season as they dropped to 2-5 at home. The Dallas Mavericks got red hot in the second quarter to build up a 19-point lead, and although the Spurs came back and stole it almost at the end, it was too much for them to overcome. Most importantly, they lost Dejounte Murray early on to a sprained ankle. If he misses a lot of time, it will be a challenge for him as well as Derrick White.
DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Alridge had nice rebounds with 55 points combined, and Keldon Johnson posted a 17-point, 14-rebound double-header. Luka Doncic had 36 points to lead four Mavs starters in double figures.
Observations
- Welcome back, Becky Hammon! The Spurs head coach returned to the bench after two weeks in quarantine under COVID-19 protocols. Drew Eubanks is also back but is not ready to play (indicating he may have had COVID).
- Murray limped to the locker room after the Spurs’ second defensive possession after landing at the foot of Kristaps Porzingis (who had already scored 5 points at the time). It was announced that he would not return due to a sprained ankle. As a result, Tre Jones, the second round, got his first non-garbage time of his career when he went in to start the second quarter for two minutes.
- The Spurs got off to another slow start in this game, but suddenly Aldridge had 14 points out of the net and hit four consecutive tries in the first quarter. It was a pair of Rudy Gay and Patty Mills. For anyone keeping score, the Spurs hit a three on six straight possessions (even one where the refs inexplicably mentioned a foul on the floor on what clearly should have been three FTs for Mills, but he did with ‘anyway’ n three answered). Unfortunately, the Spurs still could not stop the Mavs on the other side, especially Doncic (19 points in the first), and they were still 37-34 lower in the second quarter.
- Jakob Poeltl still has problems not called for transgressions (legal or otherwise). For that matter, the Mavs seemed to know that the chances were pretty decent that the refs would call almost anything on Poeltl, so they flew a few times and tried to pull more calls. Fortunately, the refs did not fall for it.
- The Mavs red-hot shooting continued throughout the second quarter, opening a double-digit lead after hitting five tries and a one-on-one on their first seven possessions. Meanwhile, the Spurs shooting cooled, allowing the Mavs’ lead to rise to 19, but eventually they realized Dallas did not have an inside defense and started attacking the edge (with Keldon Johnson being the biggest striker, of course) to get to 68-58. , in half. If nothing else, it was nice to see them react this time instead of being out of the game for the second consecutive game at halftime.
- The Mavs shooting finally cooled down a bit in the third quarter, but the Spurs did not get hot and they could not keep Dallas off the line as they maintained a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. But to the credit of the Spurs, they kept competing – something last season’s team rarely did.
- Keldon Johnson had to sit out five fouls early in the fourth quarter, and at least three of them were softball calls. Devin Vassell also occasionally received the rookie treatment, but that did not stop them from playing their hardest. The benefit of the doubt comes with time and experience.
- Every time the Spurs threatened to run, it would feel like the basketball gods would not let them get any closer. An untimely mistake, shots rolling out, the Mavs reacting, and so on, and the Spurs could never fully take advantage of and make money when Doncic rested. But they still will not leave. The defense sharpened, they took advantage by taking in the bonus with a few minutes left, and still attacked the edge as Doncic himself was faced with five fouls. They managed a 14-2 run to get inside a point with a minute left, but they could not close the deal completely.
- The best description I have on the point of Aldridge in defense is that he looks like he donated his ACLs to DeJuan Blair. He just no longer has the speed, agility or hopping to lock more or stay with drifters. His skills still allow him to be an effective player on offense, but his agility is gone.
- Mandatory entry “I miss Boban Marjanovic”.
Visit Mavs Moneyball for the Mavericks fans.
The Spurs return to the AT&T Center on Sunday to start a SEGABABA, starting with the Washington Wizards. Tip will take place at 19:00 CT on FSSW.