SPUR-EVER: Ten Titles

Indiana came close, but fell at home tonight. The Spurs found themselves in a close battle against the Pacers, but finally got going after a chilly night overall from the perimeter. Joe Harris hit four 3PTers by the final buzzer to oil up the wheels here and there, with Avery Bradley, Brandon Ingram & Dejounte Murray making hustle plays and great defensive movements to hold on for the tough victory in Hoosiers territory. Murray got two clutch steals on both Victor Oladipo and new Pacer T.J. McConnell in the game, as Ingram blocked Myles Turner on a layup attempt as the Pacers cut the lead back to five, after an 8-0 eruption by San Antonio that ultimately won the game. Malcolm Brogdon (7-16) had 22 points with 5 assists, welcomed to the Pacers from Milwaukee, as Oladipo scored 17 points back from injury (6-16). Myles Turner did have an impressive night, fresh off the big money extension, for 15 points and 19 rebounds with 2 blocks. Kyle Anderson nearly had a triple-double (14 ...

Aaron Gordon played well, but the Magic offense collapsed. The Spurs blew the Magic out after a strong second quarter (34-23) as Orlando scored just 46 points in the second half, unable to find momentum and strike back. Aaron Gordon did manage 16 points with 8 rebounds, hitting two threes, but it was not enough, despite 11 assists by DJ Augustin and four other Magic players notching double figures. Nikola Vucevic had a cold night with just 8 points, 14 rebounds. Meanwhile, the Spurs committed only three turnovers in a masterful performance (10 turnovers for the Magic), hitting 16 shots from the perimeter and 53% overall to Orlando's 44% (and an icy 11/40 from 3PT), despite the Magic shooting twice as many free throws. The Spurs dominated the paint 56-30 and the fast break 18-13, swiping 8 steals and swatting 5 blocks on Orlando. Brandon Ingram scored 19 points, followed by Avery Bradley's 16 points & 7 assists with 3 steals. P.J. Tucker had a nice evening with 16 po...

Jimmy Butler had a quiet night. Jimmy Butler couldn't find a rhythm (14 points, -26) as the Spurs accomplished the opposite, always a nice feat on the road, winning the third quarter 32-19 to pull away here. The Heat did get 25 points from Dion Waiters, but it took him 28 shots. Justice Winslow dished out 10 assists. San Antonio was led by Brandon Ingram's 19 points (9-13, 1 steal, 1 block) and sixteen monstrous rebounds by Timofey Mosgov (6 points, 1 block). Omri Casspi sparked in a good game with 17 points, hitting three long shots off the bench. Taurean Prince scored 14 points; Dejounte Murray had 10 as did J.R. Smith & Dragan Bender (with 7 rebounds).