The San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama walked into Madison Sq. Backyard driving one of many hottest stretches in latest franchise historical past.
They walked out shocked, trying to find solutions after a lopsided loss introduced their momentum to a sudden cease.
After going an ideal 11-0 all through February, the Spurs noticed their successful streak snapped in emphatic style with a 114–89 loss to the New York Knicks.
The defeat not solely ended San Antonio’s run, however uncovered cracks that shocked even their franchise cornerstone.
“We gave them life,” Wembanyama stated. “We should always have been higher, particularly on that run within the first quarter.”
San Antonio appeared in management early, leaping out to a 19–7 lead and looking out each bit just like the staff that had surged into the highest of the Western Convention standings. Then got here a brutal shift.
The Knicks responded with a 26–2 run that fully flipped the sport and drained the Spurs of their rhythm.
Regardless of going through bodily protection they’d seen earlier than, Wembanyama admitted the response was not what he anticipated.
“I used to be shocked, yeah,” Wembanyama stated. “It looks like they’re a great basketball staff, they’re good precise basketball gamers. They’re not the nastiest, ugly staff, you understand? They’re not an unpleasant staff to look at however they made our sport ugly.”
Wembanyama completed with 25 factors, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks, however the stat line got here with blemishes.
He turned the ball over seven occasions and went 1-7 from three-point vary, later pointing to his personal hesitation as an element.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson stated the distinction earlier than and after that stretch was stark.
“I believe when you watched us even a bit of bit this 12 months, the most effective model of us is quick, exercise, area, tempo,” Johnson stated, “whether or not that’s ball motion, physique motion or a mix of. And at that time by that stretch we have been it felt like in quicksand so much, each methods.”
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