San Antonio fell to the Hornets 111-106, despite a key performance from rookie Dylan Harper.
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs lost to the Charlotte Hornets 111-106 on the road. Dylan Harper led the team with 20 points and two assists. The Spurs are now 0-1 versus Charlotte this season.
Keldon Johnson finished with six points and one assist off the bench. Harrison Barnes added 11 points off the bench. Julian Champagnie scored 13 points. Devin Vassell scored 13 points in a starting role, and Stephon Castle recorded 16 points and nine assists. De’Aaron Fox added 11 points.
The Spurs are 32-16 and will next host the Magic on Sunday.
Here’s a sample of what the Spurs and Hornets said after the game.
Mitch Johnson:
“I was disappointed for sure. I think Charlotte’s playing really well. But again, we won three out of the four quarters. So that means there were some things that we were doing well as well, and we just need to do it for more than 48 (minutes).”
“I think we played great overall, but we had stretches where there were too many times that we let go of offensive rebounds, defensive mishaps, just taking quick shots and stuff like that. But I think for us, this is a learning step. We are very young. So, I mean, we take all these games into account, but I think game-by-game we learn a new thing.”
Head coach Charles Lee:
“What impresses me most is our ability to respond. The ability to match their physicality, and at times exceed it. That’s a really physical defense and I thought that them switching their defenses up at times slowed us down a little bit. Our guys didn’t let that stop them. I thought we did a great job screening and playing through physicality.”