SPUR-EVER: Ten Titles

The Spurs defense was the key factor tonight. The Clippers came into Texas, looking to put on a show, but the Spurs defense had other ideas and caused a mess in the first quarter, winning it 19-35. LA would outscore the Spurs in the 2nd Quarter, but the Spurs led by as many as 23 points and the Clippers never took a lead. Breaking up alley oop attempts, swiping three turnovers out of Lou Williams, courtesy of Derrick White (7 rebounds)--the Spurs did it all to win. That doesn't mean they didn't try, erasing the lead down to single digits several times, making for an anxious night for the home crowd. Timofey Mosgov (15 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks) was the key for the Spurs, padding the lead back up to 10 despite the Clippers sneaking back close in the final minute. Kawhi Leonard, with Ingram draped over him, made a tough layup with the foul, only for Dejounte Murray (19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) to make one on the other end as the Clippers took a moment to acknowled...

Nik Stauskas went off for a new career high. Things got bad quickly for the T'Wolves as the Spurs recovered well after the disappointing loss to the Lakers. The Spurs got so hot from long range, they tied the Houston Rockets all-time NBA record with 27 made three-pointers. Nik Stauskas came out firing and kept firing, splashing a sensational nine 3PT baskets for a new career high of 33 points. "It felt amazing. Once I get on a roll like that from three, I just let it fly." Stauskas also got some pick-and-roll burn, scoring a nice layup slotted in at the 2 position. The Rest : Dejounte Murray dished 10 assists and slashed to the hoop for 22 points, impressively dropping in three from long range. Taurean Prince scored 22 points, and Brandon Ingram dropped 20; no 3PT misses between the trio, going 8-8. Joe Harris had a good game after a cold spell, hitting four from deep (12 points) and distributing 7 assists. Avery Bradley scored 9 points, as did J.R. Smith. P.J. ...

The Lakers dealt the Spurs a first loss at home. A frustrating defeat came at home, snapping the tradition of a lengthy home win streak of years past, as the Lakers overcame an 8-PT halftime deficit to ultimately win by eight. The Spurs would claw back within two points midway through the fourth quarter, but LeBron James (28 points, 7 assists) was too strong. His new teammate Anthony Davis owned the paint with 17 rebounds & 16 points with 2 blocks. Danny Green was a pest on the wing, splashing in 15 points with 6 assists, scorching his old team. Troy Daniels hit four threes for 12 points, snapping any momentum for the Spurs. Replacement for DeMarcus Cousins, Dwight Howard grabbed 12 rebounds and got 2 steals with a block. Kentavius Caldwell-Pope & Javale McGee combined for 22 points, with McGee snaring 9 rebounds with 3 blocks and 3 steals. The Lakers shot 50%, compared to only 42% by the Spurs. Brandon Ingram was very cold in this game, going 4-20 with 3 turnovers (12...

Julius Randle was a force for the Knicks tonight. Avery Bradley (28 points, 11-15, 4 steals, 2 blocks) sparked the Spurs road effort in the first half and commandeered the team to pull out the win, pulling up over Julius Randle to secure a four-point lead in the final minute and even getting the block on the bigger man. By the buzzer, the Knicks had two chances from three-point territory to tie the game after a miss by Ingram left New York with the final possession, but Marcus Morris Sr. (24 points, 6 rebounds, 3-5 3PT) and Kevin Knox II ( 1-8, 0-2 3PT) both misfired to end the exciting game that saw the Spurs cling to a modest margin of a lead before nearly letting it slip away. "I leave my heart on that court every night, do what I gotta do to get us a W," Bradley told TNT's David Aldridge, fresh off his new two-year 32 million deal, and tonight he reminded everyone why the Spurs value him so. Bradley drove hard to the basket for the most part, protecting the lead...

Ben Simmons erupted in the third quarter. The Spurs began to buckle in the second quarter, down by seven at halftime, only for Ben Simmons to erupt a huge swell that put San Antonio in a twenty-point hole. A glimmer of hope came when Simmons fouled out near the buzzer, but the Spurs were unable to take advantage of his absence. San Antonio would finally play better midway through the fourth quarter, as Dejounte Murray finished with 27 points and 3 steals. He was the first victim of Simmons' rampage, losing the ball twice as Simmons raced down court and jammed it home for the 76ers. Brandon Ingram scored 29 points, knocking down four 3PTers. Jarrett Allen got himself a double-double of 12 points, 16 rebounds & 2 blocks. J.R. Smith went cold, trying to gun the Spurs back into the fray, calling it a night with 11 points on 4-10 overall. Taurean Prince went 0-7, disappointingly. Meanwhile, Simmons exited the game with 29 points, 3 steals & 2 blocks on 13-16. New arrival...

Nik Stauskas tied his career-high in Portland. Despite riding a 15-game win streak at the moment, the Spurs have reached a deal with Nik Stauskas in an attempt to shore up the wing and perimeter stock. Stauskas has become a journeyman, most recently joining an overseas team after a brief bright spot of resurgence with the Portland Trail Blazers during which Stauskas achieved a career-high 24-point performance. So when the Spurs called, his agent was quick to deliver the news of yet another team's interest in him. His resurgence in Portland revealed the former Michigan star's struggle with self-doubt after being a lottery pick went awry for him, as it can for talented yet unrefined college prospects. Stauskas can be deadly from 3PT range, once making 46 three-pointers in a row back home in his academic days, stirring enough noise to nearly lure Steph Curry into a 3PT challenge before the NCAA stepped in. "Everybody respects the Spurs organization. You know, I though...

Bradley Beal had a rough night. The Wizards fell behind, swiped the lead back, slipped down again, then sneaked close before Dejounte Murray made some nice shots down low to seal the road victory. Had Bradley Beal not gone 0-7 from long range, the Wizards may have secured the comeback during a two-minute scoring drought by the Spurs. Brandon Ingram, Taurean Prince (13 points, 7 rebounds), and big men Jarrett Allen & Timofey Mosgov powered the road engine tonight. Ingram had a nice first half and despite going a bit cold in the final quarter finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds (6-17, 1-5 3PT, 3 steals). Mosgov & Allen combined for 23 rebounds. A second spark came from J.R. Smith, bombing some shots from deep in this game for 17 points with 2 steals. For the Wizards, lottery pick and Japanese-born Rui Hachimura from Gonzaga had a nice game with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Thomas Bryant looked impressive with 15 boards and 10 points. Isaiah Thomas also struggled in the a...

Luka Doncic was great for Dallas tonight. As the timeless Texan rivalry would indicate, the Spurs found themselves without the lead, with less than a minute left on the clock, on the road before a hostile Dallas crowd. Why? Prized prospect Luka Doncic had just buried a 3PT shot from his sweet spot atop the wing. With a clutch response, Brandon Ingram fought his way to the basket and drew the whistle, burying two free throws to take back the lead. Dallas would call timeout and Doncic would find himself double-teamed by Ingram & P.J. Tucker. The Spurs defense admittedly gambled on Dorian Finney-Smith missing a would-be game-winning three in the corner, and the road team hit black and rode out in silver from Dallas. Before Doncic's big shot from deep, Ingram had swiped the ball loose from the Slovenian dead-eye and dunked it home on the other end in a tenacious contest that bodes well for the rest of this season series. Taurean Prince had a strong first quarter, but saw hi...

Jeremy Lin had a nice showing against Chicago. The visiting Chicago Bulls may have taken a 2-PT lead at one moment, but there was never any doubt the Spurs would emerge victorious, going up by 10 after the 1st Quarter despite losing the second, the only quarter in which Chicago outscored San Antonio. Both teams shot well in a pleasant basketball game that tallied 57 assists, the Bulls shooting 49% and the Spurs 58%. Both teams combined for 23 made shots from the perimeter, but it was San Antonio owning the paint 56-34 and the fast break 23-17. Brandon Ingram couldn't quite nail the dagger for the home crowd, but finished with 18 points as did Jeremy Lin in his best game so far this season. Timofey Mosgov devoured the glass with 15 points and 16 rebounds. Dejounte Murray danced on Khris Dunn for 14 points dishing five assists for good measure. Avery Bradley and Taurean Prince combined for 25 points, as Bradley whipped 6 assists. Jarrett Allen looked solid with 9 points &...