Derozan’s return could ease bouts of offensive struggles
Whenever Demar Derozan is able to return, the Spurs will welcome him with open arms.
The Spurs have endured some frigid cold spells lately, including a 7-of-25 first quarter in Chicago.
That opening frame would have been worse if not for Jakob Poeltl and Lonnie Walker IV going 6 of 8. The rest of the Spurs were 1 of 17 to start Wednesday’s game.
Derozan’s pending return theoretically could serve to smooth over some of those rough spots.
Despite going 3-1 during Derozan’s most recent absence, the Spurs can still use the shouldhave-been All-star’s shot-making and playmaking as they attempt to finish out their road trip in style.
“It’s always great to have Demar back,” Poeltl said. “That’s our go-to guy. We rely on him in situations where, down the stretch, we need a bucket. He’s that guy for us. Either way, if he’s there or not, I think we’re flowing very well right now, and I’m just excited to keep it going.”
Poeltl stays quiet on ‘monster’ outing
Poeltl and Derrick White have a friendly competition to see who can record the most blocks each game.
On Wednesday night in Chicago, White won 2-0.
But from an overall standpoint, Poeltl left the city with a bigger reason to crow — not that he would ever do that publicly.
“I don’t even really care that much about my performance,” said Poeltl, who tied a career high with 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting and a career-best 16 rebounds. “I’m just happy we came together as a team.”
Trailing by 23 late in the second quarter, the Spurs rallied to win 106-99 for their biggest comeback of the season.
Poeltl became the first Spurs player with 20 or more points and 15-plus rebounds since Lamarcus Aldridge had 34 and 16 in a game during the 2018-19 season.
White summed up Poeltl’s performance with one word: “Monster.”
“Jakob Poeltl had a wonderful game,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
It was Poeltl’s sixth doubledouble of the season and second in as many games.
Poeltl’s 20 points matched his total from a Dec. 4, 2018, game at Utah as the most of his career. His 16 rebounds eclipsed his 15 against Houston on Dec. 3, 2019.
Over the past two games, Poeltl has totaled 34 points, 28
rebounds and four blocks.
In Chicago, Poeltl was 5 of 5 from the floor in the first half. He finished 9 of 11, missing only a tap-back in the third quarter and an 8-footer in the fourth.
Friday’s game against Cleveland marks the first of 11 back-toback sets for the Spurs in the season’s second half. They are set to finish their five-game Eastern Conference road trip on Saturday night at Milwaukee.
The Spurs’ jam-packed second half schedule calls for them to play 40 games over 68 days. The Spurs and the Memphis Grizzlies are the only teams without any two-day breaks during that span.
“It takes away any chance for practice,” Popovich said of the grueling schedule. “It’s on-thejob training.”