“We’re going to go out there and give a fight,” said Julian Champagnie on the team’s win versus Portland.
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers on the road, 118-116. With the win, the Spurs are now 2-0 versus Portland this season.
Victor Wembanyama led the team with 28 points and seven rebounds. Harrison Barnes had 10 points and three rebounds, and Chris Paul had five and four assists before being ejected in the first half.
Jeremy Sochan added 15 points, Devin Vassell recorded 23, and Julian Champagnie finished with 19 and five rebounds.
Due to injury, San Antonio was without Keldon Johnson, Zach Collins and Tre Jones. Head coach Gregg Popovich was also out due to illness. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson assumed head coaching duties for the game.
The Spurs are 13-12 in the season and will host the Timberwolves on Sunday night.
Here’s a sample of what the teams said after the game.
Mitch Johnson:
“I think anytime when you have a tough stretch in a game when you’ve played well like we did in the third quarter, to be able to have enough time to then respond to that tough stretch and finish the way they did does a lot for our confidence and understanding moving forward. When we do get those rough patches, we have the capability to pull ourselves out.”
“Sometimes we’ll play eight to nine guys. Sometimes we’re playing however many we played today. Everybody’s got to be ready. I think it’s a huge shout out to our player development and to everybody just being locked in and being ready to play. Everybody had to step up today in those shoes.”
Champagnie:
“I just think we showed some maturity within the team. Obviously, we’re down 17 the fourth, I think it was. We’re not going to lose like this. We’re going to go out there and give a fight, whether it be a loss or a win. So, I think it shows some grit, some grind, and some maturity.”
Wembanyama:
“I think tonight we went through a stretch that we wouldn’t have survived one year ago. I have to recognize the maturity that everyone got. It showed tonight.”
Chauncey Billups:
Donovan Clingan