Grades: San Antonio Spurs vs. Indiana Pacers – Game #61
Malaki Branham started and the Spurs got another win (Photo via Twitter)
The San Antonio Spurs notched a second straight victory on Sunday night versus the Indiana Pacers. It was another feel-good win that was highlighted by unbelievable play from Victor Wembanyama.
The Spurs came out of the gates playing great defense and sharing the ball on offense. The result was a 26-16 lead by San Antonio after one. The Pacers were able to make a run at the end of the second quarter that extended into the start of the second half. However, the Spurs got back on track and took an 86-77 advantage into the fourth period.
Three minutes into the final period, a Keldon Johnson bucket gave the good guys a 13-point lead, 97-84. However, that’s when things looked like they were going to fall apart for the Spurs. Over the next three minutes, the Pacers went on a 13-1 run to get within a point.
But instead of folding, the Silver and Black hit big shot after big shot. A 10-0 run down the stretch gave the Spurs cushion and they went on to win by a final count of 117-105.
All in all, it was a very good win. The Spurs played well on the defensive end and executed offensively when it mattered most in the fourth quarter.
Stats: Spurs vs. Pacers
Spurs vs. Pacers – Final Grades
Victor Wembanyama
In a season of superlative-worthy performances, Wembanyama dominated the Pacers in one of his finest showings to date. A couple things made this outing different than others. First, Wembanyama’s physicality and determination were off the charts. He knew what he wanted to do, where he wanted to do it and made sure it happened when he wanted it to happen. Wembanyama might not be the strongest player but he’s enough of an overwhelming specimen that he is difficult for anyone in the world to handle. Second, the rookie really limited his mistakes. He attempted smart shots, took few risks and was laser focused on winning. Wembanyama was a defensive monster, extremely efficient on offense and passed the ball very well but, most importantly, he played even better than the numbers suggest.
Grade: A+
Devin Vassell
This was an interesting game for Vassell. He didn’t shoot it straight. He turned it over too much. However, he still found ways to be impactful. He was relentlessly active on defense and took both his man-to-man and team-wide responsibilities seriously. Vassell’s effort on the glass was as high as we’ve seen all season. Offensively, his aggressiveness helped open up lanes for teammates and his passing was better than usual. Vassell is quietly becoming a quality playmaker.
Grade: B
Jeremy Sochan
I liked how Sochan played versus Indiana. Offensively, he took what was given to him without forcing the issue. As the game progressed, his power and decisiveness got better and better. His passing was a plus and he took on more of the playmaking duties than usual without trying to do too much. Defensively, Sochan faced a variety of challenges and did well in just about every circumstance. Let’s hope we see more of the calm and cool version of the second-year forward.
Grade: B+
Tre Jones
The good: Jones gave great effort on the defensive end. He rarely got scored on and when he did, he didn’t go down without a fight. For the second straight game, Jones went without a turnover. He’s now played 63 consecutive minutes without turning the ball over. The bad: Jones took being passive on offense to a new level. Two shot attempts and four assists in 30 minutes? He wasn’t doing much playmaking and wasn’t a threat to score the ball. That will rarely be a winning combination for Jones and the Spurs.
Grade: C
Malaki Branham
Starting in place of Julian Champagnie, Branham looked really good. He brought a much more well-rounded repertoire to the table than the Spurs typically get from Champagnie. What stood out most was his passing. Branham passing the rock at a high level made life easier for his compatriots. He was the connector piece the starting lineup doesn’t usually have. Oh, and Branham also poured in 18 points on efficient shooting. His scoring wasn’t as impressive as his passing but it was helpful and forced the Pacers to account for him. Defensively, Branham had a few hard-nosed possessions. For him, that’s definitely notable.
Grade: A-
Keldon Johnson
The good: Johnson scored 17 points off the bench in 27 minutes. He hit a couple momentous shots and exhibited quite a bit of courage. He turned the ball over only once and his decision-making was reasonable. The bad: Defensively, Johnson’s sloppiness returned. He didn’t do enough wrong to anger Pop again — but it was close. Offensively, I would’ve liked to have seen Johnson play with even more burliness. He hasn’t been getting to the line much recently and didn’t even visit the charity stripe at all against the Pacers.
Grade: B
Blake Wesley
Wesley had been playing a decaffeinated brand of basketball lately but he was back to his energetic ways against the Pacers. Defensively, he was all over the place. His pressure and playing of the passing lanes made a difference. In the open court, he was a terror. Wesley’s speed continues to impress. On offense, he made a lot of very good decisions. He hit all three of his shots from the field, 3-of-4 free throws and only turned it over once. Wesley had some tactical errors here and there but it was great to see the electricity back in his veins.
Grade: B+
Zach Collins
Being Wembanyama’s backup is never going to be easy but Collins did enough good versus Indiana to keep San Antonio afloat. Most of his positives came in the form of scoring the basketball. He was tough in the paint and his touch was better than usual. Collins scoring 11 points in 16 minutes is nothing to scoff at. The rest of his outing, though, was nondescript — at best. His rim protection and rebounding were nothing special. He had a couple good passes but those were negated by a few ill-timed passes.
Grade: B-
Cedi Osman
Osman didn’t do a whole lot of good. Defensively, he was routinely a step behind the action. His individual defense has looked poor in recent contests. Offensively, there were a couple high-quality passes but that was about the extent of his usefulness. Osman ended up scoreless in 14 minutes.
Grade: C-
Pop
It looks like Pop may have stumbled onto something in starting Branham in place of Champagnie. I wouldn’t be surprised if Pop sticks with that alignment even when Champagnie is healthy. The playcalling against the Pacers was very good. Pop stubbornly kept getting the ball to Wembanyama — and it worked beautifully. The rotation was good. I hope Pop sticks with a nine-man rotation instead of a ten-man rotation going forward. The Spurs have looked much more cohesive when Pop has utilized a tighter rotation.
Grade: B