SPUR-EVER: Ten Titles

Giannis tried, but the Bucks lost badly. The Spurs came out empowered and determined to win at home after a disappointing loss in Milwaukee, also wanting to execute well. "Our mission tonight was to attack the basket. We were far too timid last game, so I'm happy with our effort tonight," Coach Popovich proudly stated post-game after his team crushed the Bucks, leading by as many as 57 points at one moment in the game. Brandon Ingram had a season-high 30 points with 8 reounds, as every Spur played aggressively and didn't relent whatsoever on defense. Giannnis Antetokounmpo ( 25 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, 11-21, 0-3 3PT) was pushed further and further out by the Spurs zone defensive scheme, realizing the speed advantage of the Bucks talent in a man-on-man strategy. Taurean Prince put together a great game, tallying 22 points & 12 rebounds with 5 assists (8-10, 2-3 3PT). Overall, the Spurs controlled the glass, as Jarrett Allen & Timofey Mosgov combin...

The Spurs held close in a two-point tug of war, ultimately losing control on the road as Milwaukee blitzed past them in the last half of the fourth quarter. Giannis Antetokounmpo had a monstrous 42 points on the night & 17 rebounds with 3 blocks, hot for 16 points at halftime as the Bucks dominated the paint unlike the Spurs. Milwaukee : Eric Bledsoe had 13 points with 5 assists; Khris Middleton scored 10 points. The Bucks won the 3rd Quarter 14-22, and the 4th 30-20 after a more contentious first half. Brandon Ingram had a bad showing on 5-12 shooting for 13 points, as did Dejounte Murray with 9 points & 7 assists (5 turnovers). Taurean Prince & P.J. Tucker combined for 24 points & 10 rebounds. Even San Antonio's big men Mosgov & Allen only hoisted down 15 rebounds, two less than the Greek Freek. Uncharacteristically, the Spurs made only 5 three-pointers, losing the paint battle 72-42 and coughing up 15 turnovers.

Jeremy Lin had a season-high 18 points to get the win. Jeremy Lin (18 points) sparked a scoring rhythm for a huge Spurs third quarter run, 39-18, leading to a perseverant win for the antsy home crowd ushering in the new year. To Chip Englund's delight, Lin buried 3-3 from long range in this game in a down game for Dejounte Murray (2-7). The Thunder held a small lead that nearly opened up on the Spurs, a familiar pain v. Golden State, but with the help of Jeremy Lin & Taurean Prince, the San Antone dynasty was able to find its championship-caliber resilience and shooting spark, splashing in fifteen long shots in the contest, thanks to Nik Stauskas (9 points) and Prince (14 points) combining for six 3-PT daggers. Timofey Mosgov was an iron wall that held off bursts by OKC, collecting four blocks overall with 8 rebounds, as defensive effort clearly came back into the hearts of the Spurs talents, as no easy layup went up to the basket without a hack for the whistle. OKC str...

Coach Pop was not happy with his team tonight. "We didn't play any," Coach Popovich spoke courtside regarding the interior defense or lack thereof as the Warriors outran and outshot the Spurs by the buzzer's sound in what started out differently. Steph Curry had a cold first half, and were it not for D'Angelo Russell's (17 points, 12 assists) trio of three-pointers in the first quarter that gave Golden State a comfortable margin of control, the Spurs may have been able to stay composed. Instead, San Antonio's ability to score evaporated and then Steph Curry wound up with 37 points, 6 rebounds & 8 assists with 5 threes, despite shooting 11-31 overall to overcome a cold start. "That's our worst performance of the season," Popovich sounded off, visibly disappointed by his team's effort. The scoreboard and quarter scoring columns would lead one to believe it was a close game, but Golden State led by 23 at one point. Nik Stauskas cau...

The highlight of this battle against the Pistons came, once again, courtesy of Brandon Ingram , who may have finished with only 15 points, but hammered a tomahawk dunk past Andre Drummond (16 points, 22 rebounds) as both men stumbled to the hardwood, with the crowd and commentary simply ecstatic in response. Ingram also contributed 6 rebounds & 5 assists, 1 steal & 1 block. The Spurs were led by Dejounte Murray once again, whose 25 points & 3 steals was enough to fend off a few chances by Detroit to take the game over late. The Spurs benefited from a 32-20 third quarter rout. J.R. Smith scored 18 points, with Taurean Prince's 11 helping the offense. For the Pistons, Derrick Rose scored 18 points followed by a chilly Blake Griffin (6-19) with 16 points. San Antonio shot 52% compard to 43% by Detroit, who only made 4/20 from long range, also missing eight free throws, mostly due to Drummond's poor ability from the charity stripe.