San Antonio Spurs, missing Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, fell 125-112 to the Timberwolves.
SAN ANTONIO — Without Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle due to injury, the San Antonio Spurs lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 125-112 on the road. De’Aaron Fox led the team with 25 points and four assists.
Keldon Johnson had 22 points and eight rebounds, and Dylan Harper finished with 17 points. Devin Vassell scored 22, and Julian Champagnie had five and four rebounds. Harrison Barnes recorded five points, and Luke Kornet added six points and four rebounds.
The Spurs are 13-6 and will next host the Grizzlies on Tuesday.
Here’s a sample of what the Spurs and Wolves said after the game.
Mitch Johnson:
“I think it started the third quarter. I thought our activity-resistance, togetherness defensively was really poor. We turned them over, I believe zero times in the third quarter, so we just didn’t have that level of presence on and off the basketball. They’re a really good team, and then, they do start making shots, and now, you know, it’s going to be tough to try to slow that down.”
“They made shots, we didn’t. I think, on the defensive end, obviously we could have cleaned a little some stuff up, but at the end of the day, you know, they made shots, we didn’t. So you know, we look forward to playing in our home now. We just obviously remember this one, but, you know, we go with the mindset, you know, fresh new mind, come home, just go right into another game.”
Coach Chris Finch:
We rebounded really well out of it. We flew around and contested well. You know, they weren’t able to kind of manipulate the matchups as they wanted it that way. And then, you know, offensively we found great rhythm, we really did. Kind of wide open looks, moving the ball, Julius [Randle] was phenomenal as playmaker, and everybody else made the next play, the right play.”