Big lead doesn’t hold hold up
It was a game the Spurs could have won. It was a game the Spurs should have won.
It was a game the Spurs did not win.
The Spurs headed into the All-star break on something of a down note, blowing a double-digit lead in the second half and losing 107-102 to Oklahoma City at the AT&T Center
For the Thunder, it was only their fifth victory in their past 13 games. Two have come against the Spurs.
For the Spurs, it was the fourth loss in the past 11 games. Two have come against the Thunder.
The Spurs led by 14 after Lonnie Walker IV drained a 3-pointer on the first possession of the second half. They gave away that advantage – almost literally – in a hail of turnovers.
Coach Gregg Popovich gave OKC credit for bringing defensive intensity on the second night of a backto-back. He also thought the Spurs – short-handed again with three players coming out of NBA health and safety protocols – were mentally tired on the third night of a back-to-back.
Whatever the reason, the Spurs finished the first half going 2-3 over the final five games, which came after a 10-day layoff due to COVID protocols.
They had better get their rest from here. When the season resumes March 10 in Dallas, it will mark the beginning of a 40-gamesin-68 nights close for the Spurs.
Here are three takeaways from the Spurs’ last night of the first half, which will probably linger over the break:
Burned again
When the Spurs lost to OKC on Feb. 24, Gilgeous alexander put up a careerbest 42 points.
By that measure, the Spurs shut him down Thursday.
The Thunder point guard had 33 points, matching the second-best night of his career. He had 20 in the second half, however, and that’s where he got away from the Spurs.
Of Gilgeous-alexander’s 13 points in the first half, seven came with Spurs defensive ace Dejounte Murray off the floor. Five came on free throws, none of which involved fouls on Murray. His lone field goal of the first half with Murray on the court came after Trey Lyles had switched onto him.
That Gilgeous-alexander finished with his fourth night of 30-plus points since the start of February was a testament to his talent as well as his persistence.
Gilgeous-alexander also contributed eight assists, and the attention the Spurs had to pay him helped open up OKC for a 12 3pointer night.
Yes, they gave it away
The Spurs had 1,000 frontline workers in the bleachers as part of a “Hometown Heroes” night. It’s a wonder those fans didn’t catch a pass or two with the way the Spurs were throwing the ball around the AT&T Center.
The NBA’S stingiest team when it comes to handing out turnovers, the Spurs committed 19 on Thursday, leading to 26 points for OKC.
They committed seven in the third quarter alone, which the Thunder cashed in for 16 points.
That fueled a 17-2 run for Oklahoma City in the quarter that helped the Thunder crawl out of that big hole.
Murray had a seasonhigh five turnovers, after coughing up only three in his previous six games combined. Demar Derozan also equaled his season high with four.
Popovich played 10 players Thursday. All but one committed at least one turnover.
Take a bow, Trey Lyles.
Due a clunker
It has been a rough month for Derozan, who in late February learned of the death of his father in Los Angeles while the team was in COVID-19 quarantine in Charlotte.
His first three games back were masterful. He logged 11 assists in each of them, the longest such streak of his career and the longest for a Spurs player since Avery Johnson in 1998.
It all seemed to catch up to Derozan on Thursday.
Whether physically tired or mentally exhausted, Derozan labored through a rough outing heading into the break.
He finished with 20 points, but went 8 of 21 from the field and left many of his shots short. He logged only four assists, his fewest since Jan. 30.
And of course, he was one of the prime contributors to the Spurs’ turnover epidemic. Derozan was good enough over the first half to earn All-star consideration. Since he wasn’t selected among the Western Conference representatives in Atlanta, Derozan will get five days of rest and relaxation.
No player has earned it more.