Keldon Johnson scored 25, former Buckeyes Malaki Branham and Keita Bates-Diop played well, but it wasn’t enough to prevent their 13th loss in a row.
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs (14-44) battled all night but fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-109 Monday night, tying the longest losing streak in franchise history with 13 defeats in a row.
Keldon Johnson scored 25, former Buckeyes Malaki Branham and Keita Bates-Diop played well, but it wasn’t enough on a hot night from Donovan Mitchell.
Zach Collins hit a three to briefly give San Antonio an early lead, but the Cavs made their first five shots and the Spurs struggled with their length and activity on both ends.
Keldon Johnson spun his way in for a layup, then Ohio native Malaki Branham drove in for a floater, but Cleveland pushed in front by a dozen behind Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley’s dominance in the paint. a few jumpers made it a 15-point game less than eight minutes in.
Keldon made a three and finished a reverse on a backdoor pass by Devonte’ Graham, then he drove for free throws. Cleveland led 34-19 after the first.
Graham jumped in to steal a pass in transition and got it to Branham for an open triple. The next possession, Graham found Branham on a back cut for a layup.
Sochan spun his way inside and made a beautiful bounce pass to Dom Barlow, who took one power dribble and finished a reverse. Sochan posted and faded away for a smooth jumper, Barlow blocked a shot, and Keita Bates-Diop drove for a lefty layup to cut Cleveland’s lead to single digits and force a timeout.
Barlow blocked Darius Garland and then Allen down low, but the Cavs went back in front by 15.
Keldon drove for a difficult layup in traffic, then rookie Blake Wesley made a leaning jumper. Graham got it to Wesley with a lob in transition, and when the rookie missed it the vet was there to pop it back in.
Sochan hit a baseline jumper, then Donovan Mitchell crossed him into another zip code before swishing a three. Mitchell hit his fifth triple of the half, then Keldon hung in the air and finished through contact for a tough layup giving him 15 at the half.
Cleveland led 65-49 at the break. Believe it or not San Antonio scored more points in the paint, but they turned it over 11 times for 20 Cavs points.
Celveland quickly pushed their way out to a 20-point lead. Sochan grabbed an offensive board and shoveled it to KBD inside for easy points. Branham knocked down a three, then Keldon drove for free throws, then Sochan chased his own miss for a putback. San Antonio forced a turnover and Branham scored in transition, then Collins hit a deep jumper.
KBD hit a three, then an and 1. Keldon knocked down a triple, then cut for a score inside. Charles Bassey fought for free throws, then cut for a layup on Graham’s seventh assist. San Antonio trailed 91-81 heading to the fourth.
Sochan got free throws, hit them both with one hand, then popped in a baseline jumper. Wesley ripped a steal and took it the other way for a dunk to make it a six-point game.
Sochan forced a turnover, then passed to Wesley who found Bassey for a layup. Cleveland pushed their lead back to 10 before Branham cut backdoor and finished a tough reverse layup. Branham hit a floater, but the Cavs kept scoring on the other end.
Branham got up to 18 points, and Keldon finished with 25. Donovan Mitchell had 41 going the other way.
San Antonio fell 117-109, their 13th loss in a row. That ties the longest losing streak in franchise history. Their next game will be in Charlotte on Wednesday.
GAME REWIND
The Spurs are coming off a road loss versus the Hawks, 125-106.
Keldon Johnson had 25 points and two assists to lead the team while Jeremy Sochan added 18 points. Malakai Branham finished with 10 points and six rebounds while Keita Bates-Diop recorded five points in the loss.
The Hawks held the Spurs to shooting 29 percent from the three-point line.
“They do everything they can. We just keep forming good habits and hope this builds in the weeks and months until next season comes along,” Gregg Popovich said. “I can see it in Tre [Jones], I can see it in Jeremy [Sochan]. Keldon [Johnson] is off the charts. Zach [Collins] is off the charts.”
INJURY REPORT
THE UNIFORMS
The Spurs will be in their Association Edition jerseys today.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
1. The Cavs have recorded more assists than their opponent in 11 straight games.
2. The Cavs have won five-straight games.
3. The Cavs are 17-0 at home when leading at halftime this season.
4. The Spurs are 3-7 on the road versus East teams this season.
5. The Spurs are 8-26 versus teams with an above .500 record this season.
Stay here at KENS 5 throughout the season for complete Spurs coverage.
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