The San Antonio Spurs made it 11 wins in a row by blowing out the Los Angeles Clippers 118-99 at the Intuit Dome on Thursday. Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama sat out for this one with right ankle injury management, but his absence was not felt on what was the second night of a back-to-back.
The Spurs led 33-25 at the end of the first quarter and were up 68-44 at halftime. They’d push the lead to 26 points, but the Clippers managed to cut it down to seven early in the fourth. You wondered if a stunning comeback was on the cards, but it wasn’t. The Spurs would go on a 23-7 run to put the Clippers away for good and have now swept the season series 3-0.
The Spurs also improved to 59-18 on the season with this win, and here’s a look at how their players fared on the night.
Stephon Castle: A
Game Stats: 20 PTS, 4 REB, 5 AST, 5 TOV, 8-15 FG, 3-5 3PT, 1-1 FT, 33 MIN
Stephon Castle stepped up in a big way for the Spurs in that fourth quarter. With the Clippers looking to get back in the game, Castle scored 10 points in the fourth on 4-5 shooting from the field to ensure they were kept at arm’s length.
Castle also did an admirable job guarding Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard here. Leonard still scored 24 points (10-16 FG), but the sophomore guard was defending him well for much of the night. There is only so much you can do against a player of that caliber, and the Spurs eventually resorted to double-teams. That certainly wasn’t a knock on Castle, though.
What you can criticize Castle for is being a bit careless with the ball, which is why he isn’t getting an A+.
De’Aaron Fox: A
Game Stats: 22 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST, 3 STL, 3 TOV, 9-13 FG, 1-4 3PT, 3-4 FT, 29 MIN
De’Aaron Fox has shone in Wembanyama’s absence this season. Coming into this game, Fox was averaging 24.8 points on 48.9% shooting from the field when the Frenchman had been out, and he dazzled in the first half.
Fox racked up 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists on 7-9 shooting from the field at the break. The two-time All-Star looked set to have a big night, but wasn’t much of a factor offensively afterward. Still, with how good Fox was in that first half, it’s hard to give him anything lower than an A.
Dylan Harper: A
Game Stats: 19 PTS, 2 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 2 TOV, 8-12 FG, 2-3 3PT, 1-1 FT, 25 MIN
Dylan Harper was excellent off the bench for the Spurs here. Harper had a lot of success on drives, but his biggest highlight of the night was hitting a half-court buzzer-beater to put his team up 24 points at halftime.
Like Castle, Harper then delivered in the fourth quarter as well. The 20-year-old had seven points in the period, and this was just yet another impressive showing in what has been a fine rookie campaign.
Luke Kornet: B+
Game Stats: 8 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 2-3 FG, 4-4 FT, 25 MIN
Luke Kornet got the start in Wembanyama’s absence, and he was great for the Spurs here. Kornet was a huge presence in the paint and played his part in the Clippers’ offensive struggles for much of the night.
Kornet’s playmaking was on point as well. He sure isn’t a bad backup to have, is he?
Devin Vassell: B
Game Stats: 14 PTS, 10 REB, 2 AST, 5-12 FG, 3-8 3PT, 1-1 FT, 29 MIN
Devin Vassell set a new season-high for rebounds here with 10. In the process, Vassell also recorded his first double-double of the season.
Vassell was shooting the ball well at the start, too, hitting four of his first six field goals. He made his first two three-pointers as well, but cooled off afterward.
Julian Champagnie: B
Game Stats: 13 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 1 TOV, 5-13 FG, 1-6 3PT, 2-3 FT, 28 MIN
Julian Champagnie couldn’t get the threes to fall on the night, but that was about it when it comes to the negatives. Champagnie was active on the glass and was effective as a scorer when he attacked the basket.
Keldon Johnson: B
Game Stats: 13 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 1 TOV, 6-11 FG, 1-2 3PT, 27 MIN
Keldon Johnson did here what he tends to do on most nights. Johnson was efficient as a scorer and hit what was probably the dagger three-pointer in the fourth quarter with 6:25 remaining. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue waved the white flag right after that shot went in, as he took Leonard out of the game.
Johnson was active on the glass as well, making the kind of hustle plays that we have grown accustomed to seeing from him.
Harrison Barnes: C
Game Stats: 3 PTS, 2 AST, 1 BLK, 1-2 FG, 1-1 3PT, 21 MIN
Harrison Barnes had a quiet night against the Clippers, except for his buzzer-beating three-pointer at the end of the first quarter. Those would prove to be his only points in the game.
Carter Bryant: C
Game Stats: 2 PTS, 1 REB, 1 TOV, 1-3 FG, 0-1 3PT, 10 MIN
Carter Bryant will find himself on Leonard’s highlight reel after tonight. The veteran forward schooled the rookie on a drive to the basket as he faked him out in some style. Bryant will learn from it, though.
