Spurs lose another Rodeo Game. Here’s what Mitch Johnson and Harrison Barnes said after the loss.
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs could not seal the win in Orlando, losing 112-111 to the Magic on the Rodeo Trip. The Spurs are now 1-3 on the extended road trip.
Stephon Castle finished with 15 points and three rebounds. Fox added nine points and nine assists. Victor Wembanyama finished with 18 points and nine rebounds. Keldon Johnson finished with 10 points. Harrison Barnes had 21, and Chris Paul had six and five assists.
Devin Vassell recorded 25 and two rebounds, and Jeremy Sochan added seven and two rebounds.
Head coach Gregg Popovich was also out due to illness. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson continues to assume head coaching duties. Charles Bassey did not suit up due to injury.
The Spurs are 22-28 this season and will face the Wizards on Monday night.
Here’s a sample of what the teams said after the game.
Mitch Johnson:
“Obviously the last plays get a lot of attention, rightfully so. When you get stops like that at the end of the game to give them extra possessions, it’s tough. And just, you know, crunch time execution. So, it’s just something that we have to continue to improve upon because that’s how close the games are in the balance. Whether it was a free throw block out in the first half that didn’t feel like that had the attention of the last play, it’s a possession, right? And so, those are the things that we have to continue to improve upon.”
“It comes down to the details. We had a couple of possessions… multiple rebound possessions that we gave up. I think we had two free throw block out rebounds that we gave up. Those are just examples, but I think it is little things like that. Obviously, you can always nitpick last possessions and over-analyze those but there are so many possessions throughout the game and fundamental things that we are not doing, that in game 50 we should be doing.”
Jamahl Mosley:
“Our guys pulled it out. I think that’s the biggest piece – 23, holding them to 23 points, in the fourth quarter. Each guy individually stepping up. Guys trusting each other to make the right play, the right pass. This is what you ask of them to do.”