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The San Antonio Spurs returned home from a resounding loss to Golden State, but the comfortable confines of the AT&T Center offered them no more help than all season, as they fell to 2-5 at home. The Dallas Mavericks came out very hot to take a 19-point lead in the second quarter, and although the Spurs came back and almost stole it in the end, it was too much for them to overcome. Perhaps more importantly, they lost Dejounte Murray early on to a sprained ankle. If he’s short on time, it’ll be a challenge with him and Derrick White.
DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Alridge had some great rebound games scoring 55 points, and Keldon Johnson posted a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds. Luka Doncic had 36 points to lead four Mavs starters in double digits.
Observations
- Welcome back, Becky Hammon! The Spurs assistant head coach returned to the bench after two weeks of quarantine under COVID-19 protocols. Drew Eubanks is also back but is not ready to play (indicating he may have had COVID).
- Murray was limping to the locker room after Spurs’ second defensive possession after landing at the foot of Kristaps Porzingis (who had already scored 5 points by then). It has been announced that he will not return due to a sprained ankle. As a result, second-round pick Tre Jones got his first run in trash-free time of his career when he came in to start the second quarter for two minutes.
- Spurs got off to another slow start in that game, but suddenly out of nowhere Aldridge tallied 14 points, scoring four straight lines in the first quarter, sandwiched around a couple Rudy Gay and Patty Mills. For anyone scoring, Spurs hit a three-on-six straight possessions (even one where the refs inexplicably called a ground foul on what clearly should have been three FT for Mills, but he still responded with one three). Sadly, Spurs still couldn’t stop the Mavs at the other end, especially Doncic (19 points in the first), and they were still down 37-34 heading into the second quarter.
- Jakob Poeltl continues to have problems do not be called for faults (legitimate or not). To that end, it seemed the Mavs knew the odds were pretty good that the refs would call just about anything on Poeltl, so they arrowed and flopped a few times to try and pull more calls. Fortunately, the referees did not fear.
- The Mav’s red shots continued throughout the second quarter, opening a double-digit lead after reaching five threes and one and one on their first seven possessions. Meanwhile, Spurs’ shots cooled, allowing the Mavs to jump to 19, but they eventually realized Dallas lacked home defense and started attacking the rim (Keldon Johnson naturally being the main attacker) to reach 68. -58. , At the half of it or in the middle. If nothing else, it was nice to see them respond this time instead of being out of play at half-time for the second game in a row.
- Mavs’ shooting eventually calmed down a bit in the third quarter, but the Spurs didn’t warm up and they couldn’t keep Dallas off the line as they maintained a 10-point lead going into the fourth quarter. . But to Spurs’ credit, they kept competing – something last season’s team rarely did.
- Keldon Johnson must have sat early in the fourth quarter with five fouls, and at least three of them were softball calls. Devin Vassell also received the rookie treatment at times, but they didn’t let that deter them from playing their best. The benefit of the doubt will come with time and experience.
- Anytime Spurs threatened to run, if they felt like the basketball gods just wouldn’t let them come close. An untimely foul, some shots in progress, the Mavs had a response etc, and Spurs were never able to take advantage and capitalize when Doncic rested. But they still wouldn’t leave. The defense tightened, they took advantage of the bonus several minutes to go and continued to attack the rim as Doncic himself faced five fouls. They went on a 14-2 run to get a point with a minute left, but they couldn’t quite close the deal.
- The best description I have of Aldridge in defense at this point is that he looks like he’s donated his ACLs to DeJuan Blair. He just doesn’t have the speed, agility or hops anymore to close or stay with the pilot players. His skills still allow him to be an effective player on offense, but his mobility is gone.
- Mandatory entry I miss “Boban Marjanovic”.
For the perspective of Mavericks fans, visit Mavs Moneyball.
Spurs return to the AT&T Center on Sunday to start a SEGABABA, starting with the Washington Wizards. The tip-off will take place at 7:00 p.m. CT on FSSW.
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