A 133-129 loss to the Dallas Mavericks continues a tail spin for the San Antonio Spurs.
Whereas the Silver and Black have sputtered since Victor Wembanyama’s season-ending harm instantly following the All-Star Break, two video games vs. the Dallas offered an opportunity for them to get proper again within the Western Convention Play-in image. As a substitute, Spurs ahead Keldon Johnson and his teammates are left with a well-known chorus.
“We have simply acquired to remain locked in. It’s the little particulars. That’s what separates groups. We have to proceed to know these little particulars and proceed to attempt to be higher,” the longest tenured Spur mentioned about his squad needing to compete for everything of a 48-minute sport.
Of their earlier sport, an eight-point halftime deficit changed into a 17-point loss on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Earlier than that, a six-point lead on the finish of the primary quarter vs. the Sacramento Kings turned a 14-point deficit on the half. All of it comes inside a stretch wherein San Antonio has misplaced eight of 11 since Wemby was recognized with blood clots.
The Mavericks loss particularly stinging for Spurs
Dallas performed simply eight gamers in beating the Spurs. Reeling from the commerce of Luka Doncic, rocked by the season-ending harm to Kyrie Irving, with no Anthony Davis, and with out key rotational guys Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington, they nonetheless knocked off a Spurs unit that entered the night time simply three losses again of the Mavs.
“On the finish of the day, it is the NBA. You have to give credit score to them,” Spurs ahead and former Maverick Harrison Barnes mentioned.
“They got here on the market, they executed their sport plan. I believed for us, we had been proper there, we had some premature turnovers, clearly mine can be in there, just some miscues on protection. However, that is the NBA,” the 32-year-old continued.
Whereas Barnes led the Spurs with 29 factors, the victorious guests had been paced by Spencer Dinwiddie and Klay Thompson, whose 28 and 26 factors, respectively, had been amongst 4 20-plus level performances by Dallas.
“I feel proper now the most important space we have to grasp our hat on is communication. There’s simply 5 gamers on the courtroom. It is not essentially positions, so it is only a matter of speaking,” Barnes revealed.
“I really feel like we might’ve been sharper,” Johnson added.
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Keldon Johnson continues to impress for Spurs
Proper behind Barnes was Keldon Johnson amongst San Antonio’s high scorers. The group’s main scorer simply two years in the past at 22 factors per sport, the sixth-year Spur is averaging 12.5 this season. Persevering with a job that began final 12 months, Johnson is among the many squad’s high reserves.
“That is simply who I’m. I play onerous, I convey power to the group,” Johnson shared.
“My mindset is to convey power,” he added.
With 28 factors vs. the Mavs, Johnson continued a pattern that is coincided with the lack of Wembanyama. Solely as soon as for the reason that All-Star break has he failed to attain in double figures.
“I simply wish to win finally. That is my drive is profitable. There’s nothing else I like greater than profitable.”
Sadly for Johnson, he hasn’t skilled a lot of it with the Spurs.