The San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama walked into Madison Sq. Backyard using one of many hottest stretches in current franchise historical past.
They walked out shocked, trying to find solutions after a lopsided loss introduced their momentum to a sudden cease.
After going an ideal 11-0 all through February, the Spurs noticed their profitable streak snapped in emphatic trend with a 114–89 loss to the New York Knicks.
The defeat not solely ended San Antonio’s run, however uncovered cracks that stunned even their franchise cornerstone.
“We gave them life,” Wembanyama stated. “We must always have been higher, particularly on that run within the first quarter.”
San Antonio appeared in management early, leaping out to a 19–7 lead and searching each bit just like the workforce that had surged into the highest of the Western Convention standings. Then got here a brutal shift.
The Knicks responded with a 26–2 run that utterly flipped the sport and drained the Spurs of their rhythm.
Regardless of going through bodily protection that they had seen earlier than, Wembanyama admitted the response was not what he anticipated.
“I used to be stunned, yeah,” Wembanyama stated. “It looks like they’re basketball workforce, they’re good precise basketball gamers. They’re not the nastiest, ugly workforce, you realize? They’re not an unpleasant workforce to observe however they made our recreation ugly.”
Wembanyama completed with 25 factors, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks, however the stat line got here with blemishes.
He turned the ball over seven occasions and went 1-7 from three-point vary, later pointing to his personal hesitation as an element.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson stated the distinction earlier than and after that stretch was stark.
“I believe in the event you watched us even somewhat bit this yr, the very best model of us is quick, exercise, house, tempo,” Johnson stated, “whether or not that’s ball motion, physique motion or a mix of. And at that time by that stretch we had been it felt like in quicksand loads, each methods.”
READ MORE: JJ Redick Retains Perspective as Lakers Limp By means of Homestand
