Little-used Forbes sizzles in 2nd half
SAN FRANCISCO — By halftime Thursday, Spurs guard Bryn Forbes had logged as many minutes as the Moda Center popcorn vendor, the public address announcer and Gregg Popovich combined. Which is to say, zero. Forbes has vowed not to let these sorts of things bother him.
“I’m trying not to trip much about much of anything,” Forbes said.
When Devin Vassell’s recalcitrant right quadricep left him unavailable for the second half against Portland, Popovich dusted off Forbes.
After entering the game for the first time with 3:18 remaining in the third quarter, Forbes finished the night on a tear, pumping in 18 second-half points — including 16 in the fourth quarter — to keep the Spurs pointed toward a 114-83 victory.
Forbes made 7 of 9 field goals, including all three of the Spurs’ 3-pointers in the second half, and ended as the game’s leading scorer.
“I wish he would make a shot,” Popovich deadpanned afterward.
Forbes came into the game at a time in which the Spurs weren’t making much of anything.
After barreling out to a 68-47 lead at halftime, the Spurs went 5 of 18 for 16 points in the third quarter.
The Spurs went 5:48 of the frame without a field goal, managing a single free throw in that time.
Less than a minute after checking in for the first time, Forbes broke that drought with a driving basket.
“Bryn’s a professional scorer,” forward Doug Mcdermott said. “He’s never going to be afraid to come in and get them up. Guys like him and come in and change the game.”
By the time Forbes was finished with his scoring binge, so were the Trail Blazers.
His first 3-pointer put the Spurs ahead 94-75 with six minutes to go.
Forbes finished with the fourth half of 18-plus points of his career, and his first since a 21-point first half at Phoenix on Jan. 20, 2020.
“I’ve been pretty good at doing that my whole career, just getting hot,” Forbes said. “I can make shots. I’m 42 (percent from 3-point range) for my career, so pretty good chance the ball is going in.”
Popovich said he was pleased at Forbes’ ability to stay engaged despite the first-half DNP.
“He’s a great kid,” Popovich said. “He’s just a pro. He knows what he does, and he does it.”
Mcdermott shines in first game back
Mcdermott made his first appearance since Nov. 18, having missed the previous four games with right knee soreness.
He has missed seven games total this season with the same injury.
“It’s a very minor injury, but it was just kind of nagging for a while,” Mcdermott said. “It’s nothing serious at all. I just wanted to be careful with it.”
Mcdermott returned to the starting lineup and scored 16 points against Portland, including 14 in the first half.
He pronounced himself no worse for wear after the 22minute night, though he acknowledged it might take him a few games to get his full wind back after the layoff.
“Cardio takes a little longer to get back,” Mcdermott said. “I felt it a little more in the second half. The first half, I was so energetic and had a lot of adrenaline to start.”
Vassell has setback in return from injury
Vassell’s return did not go as swimmingly.
The 21-year-old reserve guard played 10 minutes of the first half and made one of his two shot attempts. He did not play in the second half after reaggravating the thigh injury that sidelined him for the previous two games.
Popovich said Vassell will be monitored day-to-day heading into Saturday’s game at Golden State.