The Spurs Pull Off a Miracle Sequence to Stun Durant
On Halloween night, the San Antonio Spurs orchestrated an impressive comeback, securing a thrilling 115-114 victory over the Phoenix Suns. This game garnered high anticipation due to the showdown between Kevin Durant, famously known as the "Slim Reaper," and the rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama, often referred to as "Slenderman." The clash between these two 7-foot giants lived up to the hype, captivating the attention of fans and pundits alike.
Notable Suns Performances
Durant delivered a dazzling performance for the Suns, accumulating 26 points and providing seven assists, all while shooting an impressive 63% from the field. He also got the better of Wembanyama on several occasions. Additionally, Durant received crucial support from Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen, who contributed 20 and 19 points, respectively.
San Antonio's Leading Players
In contrast, the Spurs opted for a more balanced approach. Keldon Johnson emerged as the leader, scoring 27 points, including the game-winning layup. Wembanyama, despite a slow start, came alive in the second half, tallying 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Devin Vassell was instrumental with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.
A Comeback for the Ages
San Antonio engineered a late-game resurgence, narrowing the gap in the third quarter thanks to a barrage of three-pointers from Malaki Branham, Devin Vassell and even Wembanyama brought San Antonio within striking distance. Wembanyama's performance in the fourth quarter, including a pivotal three-pointer, officially ignited the Spurs' comeback.
In the game's pivotal moments, with just 6.8 seconds left, Wembanyama's put back dunk trimmed the Suns' lead to a single point, setting the stage for a dramatic sequence. Keldon Johnson's clutch steal, and subsequent layup not only brought San Antonio within striking distance but also handed them their first lead of the night, ultimately sealing the dramatic win 115-114.
Suns' Head Coach Expresses his Dissatisfaction with the Ending
Suns coach Frank Vogel asserted that a foul took place during the play, yet it went uncalled. Vogel explained that the team refrained from using a timeout because the inbounds pass from Okogie to Durant was designed as a "safe only" play. Okogie's instructions were to inbound the ball to Durant if he could do so safely, a condition that Durant fulfilled before the Johnson steal occurred.
"They whacked him on the arm, before the ball gets ripped out of his hands, no call. But in a situation like that, we try to get the ball inbounds to our 90% free throw shooter. And we did. But it didn't work out."
Vassell's Thoughts on the Win
Describing the victory, Vassell emphasized the team's resilience, particularly after suffering a 40-point loss to the LA Clippers on Sunday. Although Phoenix had a significant lead in the third quarter and maintained the advantage for most of the game, the Spurs mounted an 18-7 run to ultimately secure the win.
"It wasn't pretty; obviously, we were down 20 at some point, and we're a young group. But we're fighting, and we're hungry."
Legend and Rookie Give Each Other Praise
The game marked the inaugural encounter between Wembanyama and Durant, with Kevin Durant commending Wembanyama's potential in the league during the post-game press conference.
"He is going to be a force in this league for a long time,"
"Once he continues to get experience under his belt, he is going to get even better."
"Once he continues to get experience under his belt, he is going to get even better."
Wembanyama praised Durant, describing him as a "special player," and recognized the valuable lessons he had learned from one of his idols, especially in terms of patience and pacing.
"I learned that I'm far from mastering the game as much as him, because I tried to do some stuff like him but I think I'm not maybe patient enough,"
"I think I want to go too fast, but he goes to his own pace and goes to his spots. I think I have to, not copy that, but get inspired by that."
"I think I want to go too fast, but he goes to his own pace and goes to his spots. I think I have to, not copy that, but get inspired by that."
A Notable Win for the Spurs
Tuesday's win marked Gregg Popovich's 1,652nd combined victory in the regular season and playoffs as the Spurs' coach, while also levelling the team's record to .500. This achievement prevented them from initiating their first losing streak of the season. With a rematch scheduled for Thursday, San Antonio has a chance to secure consecutive wins against the formidable Suns, and fans eagerly anticipate the next chapter in the Durant vs. Wembanyama showdown.
You can watch the game highlights in the video below:
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November 1 | 73 answers The Spurs Pull Off a Miracle Sequence to Stun Durant Who's going to win the rematch this Thursday? | ||
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