Short-handed Spurs defeat depleted Thunder in second Emirates Cup match

The San Antonio Spurs hosted the undermanned Oklahoma City Thunder in their second Emirates Cup game of the season, winning in a fourth-quarter thriller without the help of Victor Wembanyama or Devin Vassell. Spurs were sharper from the box, plus bigger and stronger despite being careless with the ball.

The offense got off to a shaky start, committing four turnovers in four minutes, but paint attacks from Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes settled the offense. Then Keldon Johnson came up with two trifectas, and the rest of the squad made five of 12 efforts. The crew’s off-ball screening opened up cut-and-drive opportunities. Charles Bassey also provided solid minutes off the bench, recovering an offensive rebound, scoring twice through contact and blocking a shot to spark the transition.

Defensively, the Spurs were slow to disrupt three-point shooting, allowing five of eight shots, and couldn’t stop Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams from dribbling to their lower sweet spots. The latter rattled off five of nine field goals, and the Thunder converted 65.2 percent of the shots in the period. The first quarter ended with the visitors leading 35-32.

Then the defense tightened up, allowing two of 11 baskets in the first five minutes of the second quarter. SGA had seven points but on 25 percent shooting because the Spurs switched and struggled right away. The intensity lasted throughout the interval.

But the offense got stuck in the mud until Johnson came out and exploded like Two-Gun Tommy in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas almost halfway through. He swished three hills and got clear of a dunk off the double screen. Zach Collins also finished both of his attempts in close, and at halftime the Spurs were ahead 60-57. In addition, the team had 22 paint points, two on the break, 12 on extra attempts, two off turnovers and 30 from the bench.

In the second half, Gilgeous-Alexander sensed weakness in the Spurs’ defense. He got more damage from mid-range and long range, exposing the perimeter for Luguentz Dort’s 3-pointer with dribble penetration. But the Spurs matched the other Thunderites well, allowing two of 14 buckets.

The defenses, combined with top-shelf ball movement, Bassey’s two lobs and Johnson’s sixth 3-pointer and pair of freebies, helped the Spurs build a 16-figure lead heading into the fourth quarter. The advantage grew to 21 points two minutes later. Still, OKC’s Williams, Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace pushed the Thunder past life support with transition baskets and pulls in the half court, cutting the gap to six with two and a half minutes remaining. The Thunder also won a challenge that denied Barnes going to the line.

From that point on, Chris Paul and Collins traded baskets with Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort. Then Castle had a pivotal stop on SGA in the open lane below the rim and the Spurs won 110-104. In addition, the team had 36 paint points, six on the break, 21 via second chances, 12 off turnovers and 42 from the bench.

At the post game, interim coach Mitch Johnson was asked to stick with Castle down the stretch. He said: “There’s no way to get experience without experience. It’s one of those difficult deals and he made great games. He obviously made some younger player, but so did the older guys. We just have to continue to be solid and not skip steps, be consistent, trust the game plan and the process.”

Next, Barnes answered questions. He said Bassey’s energy is contagious. “We talk a lot about the next-man-up mentality and we’ve had a bit of an injury bug, but I thought Charles came on tonight and he impacted the game in a massive way.”

Castle said the team was focused on stopping the bleeding in the fourth quarter. “(It was us) really zoning in defensively on how to stop them from scoring. I feel like we did that pretty late in the fourth.”

Play the game

Johnson escaped downhill after setting the double screen, dropped Aaron Wiggins with his dribble and nearly decapitated SGA at the cup.

Playing notes

• The Thunder’s lack of size due to the absence of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, who have not played this season, allowed the Spurs to capitalize on attempts in the restricted area. The Silver and Black made eight of 10 shots at that spot in the first half and six of 10 in the final two quarters. Defensively, Collins and Bassey’s size bothered the Thunder near the basket. Collins’ best game was blasting SGA’s drive to the hoop. Bassey’s top sequence was tracking Caruso’s dribble off the cup and deflecting it at the rim.
• The defense also did a sharp job of guarding without fouling, allowing seven free throw attempts. But the transition protection needs to bounce back faster as it allowed 24 points.
• This was the fourth time this season the Spurs have committed at least 20 giveaways (22), but the first time they won was so careless.
• Champagnie (2), Johnson (6), Barnes (3) and Chris Paul (4) were the only Spurs to register multiple triples.
• The Johnson experience means every night there will be a questionable shot selection. He matched a career-high with six 3-pointers, but attempted three off-rhythm layups that probably made every Silver and Black fan cringe. He needs to get over it because they’re not winning games.
• Paul clamped his left thumb on SGA’s arm and tried to escape him. He got it taped up before the fourth quarter started and played the last 10 minutes of the game. At the press conference after the game, coach M. Johnson was asked about the severity of the jam. He said, “We’ll see,” and he hasn’t talked to Paul about it.

Next match: Vs. Utah Jazz on Thursday