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The Spurs blew Utah in their first preseason game, 111-85, thanks to their versatile defense and a scorching second-half scoreline to rally to the Western Conference seed ago. a year.
Dejounte Murray led the Silver and Black with 17 points, three rebounds and three assists, tied only by Josh Primo, who scored 17 points off the bench. Jared Butler punctuated the Jazz with 16 points.
Observations
- Unsurprisingly, San Antonio and Utah were rusty in the opening frame of their first preseason game, with a total of 14 of 51 on the field. Both teams played a relatively stingy defense, although the majority of their failures were committed on open looks. While there were moments of healthy, fundamental basketball, both teams could use more time on the court to build up traction with their teammates.
- Lonnie Walker and Derrick White appear to be the most logical beneficiaries of DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay and Patty Mills leaving San Antonio this offseason. However, their influx of keys didn’t really result in great productivity on Monday night. That said, you can’t read a pre-season release in depth, let alone the first pre-season release of the year. Both players have left their mark on the defensive end, and if their offense recurs, Spurs should perform even better against the Pistons.
- It was tough walking on the offensive end for Devin Vassell, who missed all five shots in the first half and traveled for good measure. Despite struggling to shoot the ball, Vassell had no trouble making life difficult for opposing players. The 2020 lottery pick looked sharp as they stepped off the bench, mirroring their assignments and cutting them off before they could make it to their seats. Don’t be surprised if the slender swingman plays a big role in improving his mediocre defensive numbers at San Antonio a year ago.
- Like most of the players who took the green light tonight, Keldon Johnson started off slow. Fortunately, the big striker picked up the pace and gained momentum throughout the second quarter. The third-year Spur beat Royce O’Neale for his first points of the night, fouling and ending the game with a float out of the glass. And it looks like Johnson picked up a few tips from DeMar DeRozan, showing off a new fade jumper that eerily reminiscent of his former All-Star teammate.
- Dejounte Murray also came out of the gates a bit slow, but that didn’t stop the sixth-year general from taking off. He opened the third quarter with an acrobatic layup over Udoka Azubuike, continued the fun with one of his iconic flights and slams, kept things from his sweet spot in the midrange and capped his hot sequence ending a difficult float by contact. San Antonio’s longest-serving player seemed comfortable taking on the de facto role of go-scorer, and he ended his outing with a record 17 points.
- Jakob Poeltl and Drew Eubanks have picked up where they left off a season ago, providing solid rim protection while cleaning glass at both ends. Poeltl scored San Antonio’s first two baskets of the night, and Eubanks hit a three-point shot, an area of his game he’s been working on all summer. The big ones know their role and seem ready to defend their place in the rotation.
- Jock Landale made his unofficial debut for Spurs, entering the game for the first time almost halfway through the second quarter. The Australian center showed a bit of chemistry with Derrick White and Dejounte Murray, confidently entering a triple pick-and-pop and slamming home a perfectly placed pocket pass. He also displayed some offensive versatility, delivering an exquisite rebound pass to a cutting Doug McDermott for an opportunity and one that put San Antonio in double digits.
- Josh Primo didn’t get into the action until the third quarter, but he didn’t hesitate once he stepped on hardwood. The 18-year-old rookie looked more like a seasoned veteran with the amount of poise he showed on the pine. The rippling combo guard got hot in a hurry, racking up eight points in his first six minutes. He pulled off a perfect 3 of 3 from the field, bursting with confidence as he slipped seamlessly into San Antonio’s second unit. Not only did Primo surpass expectations in his Silver and Black debut, but he also led the team in the score, recording a high 17 points on a near-perfect 7-of-8 line from the field.
- Bryn Forbes was the one we remembered. The undersized three-point specialist knocked down triples escaping screens, touched a few mid-range jumpers and kept the ball moving. His defense didn’t look any better than the last time we saw him don Silver and Black, but his shortcomings were less pronounced next to Dejounte and Derrick than they were to Patty and Marco. And his second stint at San Antonio should go easier than his first round as long as head coach Gregg Popovich doesn’t kick him out for 25 minutes per game.
- Keita Bates-Diop, Joe Wieskamp and Luka Samanic eventually found their way onto the pitch, although they were mostly an afterthought in their limited run. Wieskamp and Bates-Diop fighting over crumbs shouldn’t come as a shock, but time is running out for Samanic to carve out a role for himself in San Antonio. While the former 19th pick overall hasn’t seen a consistent minutes since Spurs selected him in 2019, his flashes of skill on the ball and his perimeter defense remain intriguing. Maybe all he needs is one shot to prove himself, and hopefully that will come with the youth movement taking hold this season.
- Doug McDermott provided the spacing and off-ball movement that NBA fans expect from him. The veteran sniper failed to hit three points, but he kept defenders turned as he cut through the backdoor and moved along the perimeter. San Antonio’s prized free agency signing may not be an All-Star caliber addition, but his skills should help their youngsters increase their usage rates across the board.
- There were rumors that Al-Farouq Aminu and Thaddeus Young might not qualify for San Antonio’s season opener, and none of the veteran forwards adjusted for Spurs on Monday. Young has seen his name mentioned in business rumors centered around the Phoenix Suns, who could be an optimal business partner if they’re willing to part ways with a first round.
- When head coach Gregg Popovich told reporters Zach Collins was on track to make his comeback after Christmas, it looked like San Antonio would enter the preseason with virtually impeccable health. Sadly, Tre Jones found himself on the latest injury report with a sprained ankle, putting on hold a potential breakout campaign. The second-year playmaker has been spectacular for Spurs during the Summer League, turning heads with his improved play. There’s no word on the severity of his sprain, so the faithful Silver and Black will have to wait impatiently until he’s ready to go again.
For the perspective of jazz fans, visit SLC Dunk.
The San Antonio Spurs return for more pre-season action Wednesday as they hit the road for a date with Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons.
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