Grades: San Antonio Spurs vs. Cleveland Cavaliers – Game #77
Stephon Castle had another near triple-double (Photo via X)
The San Antonio Spurs almost pulled off an improbable upset victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers but came up just short, 114-113. The Cavs improved to 62-15 with the win, while the Spurs dropped to a record of 32-45.
Cleveland led the game by ten points, 38-28, after the first quarter. From then on, the Cavs had control of the game and the Spurs appeared to be unable to claw their way back in. However, with 3:15 left in the game, the Spurs faced a 13-point deficit and that’s when they launched an assault that almost won the game.
A 14-2 run that culminated with a pair of three-pointers by Harrison Barnes brought the good guys within a point. With four seconds to go, the Spurs had a chance to take the lead but Barnes missed a shot in the paint as time expired.
All in all, the Spurs have to be very happy with how they played. The Cavs are a legitimate contender and San Antonio almost stole a game with late game execution on both ends of the court. Good stuff.
Stats: Spurs vs. Cavs
Spurs vs. Cavs – Final Grades
Devin Vassell
Playing the role of a go-to scorer, Vassell did very well. He wisely picked his spots and led the Spurs in scoring with 24 points while shooting efficiently from the field. His three-point shot looked especially smooth right now. Vassell isn’t doing much playmaking but he’s limiting mistakes and making the right reads. Defensively, I thought he was really good. Vassell had four of the team’s nine steals and his competitiveness on that end has shined in the last month or so.
Grade: A-
Stephon Castle
After being one assist shy of a triple-double against the Nuggets, Castle followed that up by being one rebound shy of a triple-double versus the Cavs. He finished the game with 22 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. While he hit only 1-of-6 three-pointers, he made up for it by hitting 7-of-10 two-pointers and 5-of-6 free throws. As the numbers suggest, Castle did a great job of distributing the ball. He flashed impressive court vision and the timing of his passes was exquisite. The rookie picked his spots much better than usual when attacking the basket and looking to score. Castle’s defense was a positive asset for the squad and his rebounding presence was felt. In a rookie year filled with very good performances, this has to be somewhere near the top.
Grade: A
Chris Paul
In San Antonio’s closing push that almost resulted in a win, Paul played arguably the starring role. He got angry and then just started bullying the Cavs. He hit a couple big shots and then set up teammates down the stretch. While the Spurs didn’t quite win, Paul’s veteran leadership was palpable when it mattered most. Throughout the game, his playmaking was really good and he played with an extra amount of gumption on both ends.
Grade: A-
Harrison Barnes
Scoring-wise, Barnes was excellent. He was 4-for-8 from three, 3-for-6 from two and 5-for-6 at the line on his way to 23 points in 30 minutes. The Spurs looked to him to connect on timely shots and Barnes delivered — up until the final attempt of the game. He also deserves kudos for finishing the game without a turnover and routinely making the right decisions on offense. Defensively, Barnes was a bit of a letdown on times. His feet were slower than normal and he failed to grab a single rebound.
Grade: B+
Bismack Biyombo
With Sochan missing another game due to back spasms, Biyombo was the center in the starting five. It’s difficult to find many faults in his production against the Cavs. Defensively, he took care of the boards, protected the rim with enthusiasm and moved his feet well out on the perimeter. Offensively, he finished at the rim, corralled rebounds and set mean screens. It’s fair to say Biyombo played his role really well.
Grade: B+
Julian Champagnie
Champagnie was back in a bench role against Cleveland and he did well. He was the only bench player in double figures, as he scored 15 points in 28 minutes on positive efficiency. Champagnie ran the court well, moved smartly off the ball and limited his mistakes. Defensively, he was solid on the glass and gave quality effort out on the perimeter. In a bench unit that struggled more than usual, Champagnie’s production was a ray of sunshine.
Grade: B+
Keldon Johnson
Johnson has played well since the All-Star break but his outing against the Cavs was forgettable. He shot blanks from the perimeter, turned it over three times and didn’t play anything resembling defense for much of the night. Johnson had a couple slick passes but mostly it was a difficult night at the office.
Grade: C-
Blake Wesley
After shooting 5-for-6 from the field (including 3-for-3 from three-point range) against the Nuggets, Wesley came crashing down to the earth against the Cavaliers. In 16 minutes, he was an unsightly 0-for-7 from the field and missed all four of his three-point attempts. Not only was Wesley missing threes, he was missing open shots at the rim by a matter of feet. To make matters worse, he also didn’t tally an assist. Defensively, he was okay-ish but he didn’t do nearly enough to overshadow his offensive struggles.
Grade: D-
Sandro Mamukelashvili
Mamukelashvili didn’t play with his usual amount of electricity but he still produced reasonably well. He had five points and five rebounds in 12 minutes. His rebounding was particularly helpful. Sadly, his defense left a lot to be desired. Mamu struggled on the interior and on the perimeter on the defensive end.
Grade: C
Charles Bassey
Bassey played three minutes as he tries to work his way back from another knee injury. He didn’t look particularly healthy in this game either, sadly.
Grade: Inc.
Jordan McLaughlin
McLaughlin didn’t dent the stat sheet in his two minutes on the court.
Grade: Inc.
Mitch Johnson
Johnson deserves a round of applause for this game. His team played at a high level, never stopped competing and nearly won it at the end. Factoring in draft positioning, this game couldn’t have gone much better for the Spurs.
Grade: A