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The San Antonio Spurs dug themselves into too deep of a gap for them to climb out of Monday night time in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers. After trailing 34-19 within the first 12 minutes, the crew performed effectively the remainder of the best way however simply couldn’t shut the hole. The Spurs (14-44) misplaced their thirteenth consecutive sport as their winless Rodeo Street Journey rolled on in opposition to the Cavaliers (38-22), falling 117-109.
Six Spurs scored in double-digits, together with all 5 of the starters, but it surely simply wasn’t sufficient to counter Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell. The previous Utah Jazz star shined with a game-high 41 factors whereas taking pictures 60 p.c from the ground. Round him, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen dominated the glass as they every recorded a double-double. The 2 bigs mixed for 32 factors and 21 rebounds. For San Antonio, current acquisition Devonte’ Graham had a powerful night time with a game-high eight assists from the bench. He contributed 12 factors of his personal to help Keldon Johnson who led the Spurs with 25 factors.
Shut However Not Sufficient for the San Antonio Spurs
From the onset, no person gave San Antonio an opportunity on this one. They opened as 16.5-point underdogs in Cleveland, and it seemed early like they could lose by much more. After trailing by 15, they picked it up by means of the center two frames, nevertheless, and gave the Cavs all they may deal with. By the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Spurs trailed by 10 factors, however they had been surging after falling behind by 20 factors. With slightly below 10 minutes left within the sport, it was a four-point affair and it was trying like San Antonio would possibly steal a win. After all, they didn’t enter the night time 0-38 when trailing after three quarters for no motive, and any hope that they had proved false.
What actually did the Spurs in down the stretch was falling into foul hassle. They’d Cleveland within the bonus for the ultimate 9 minutes of the sport and the house crew took benefit. Inside two minutes from that time, the Cavs went to the free-throw line 4 occasions for a 6-0 scoring run. That gave Cleveland the respiration room they wanted they usually by no means let San Antonio nearer than eight factors once more.
There are lots of positives the Spurs can stroll away from this one with, going into their remaining sport earlier than the All-Star break. Regardless of the drawback in measurement, Cleveland solely out-rebounded them by one, 36-35. San Antonio additionally gained on the three-point line, out-shooting the Cavs 38 p.c to 32 p.c, although Cleveland made another basket. The Spurs additionally shot 50.6% from the ground, which isn’t shabby for going through the fourth-best crew within the Japanese Convention.
UP NEXT
With the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend simply days away, the Spurs have only one sport left earlier than the break. On Wednesday, they’ll journey to Charlotte to face the Hornets (16-43) who simply snapped their seven-game shedding streak on Monday night time in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks. The beginning rotation for Charlotte went wild with 4 of the 5 gamers scoring greater than 20 factors. Main the best way was LaMelo Ball who scored a game-high 30 factors. San Antonio can have their palms full if the Hornets don’t cool off over Tuesday. Charlotte related on 20 three-pointers (54%) off of 36 whole assists.
Wednesday’s sport would be the first assembly of the 2 groups because the season opener again in October. A contest that appears a lifetime in the past, the Hornets took that sport 129-102 with out the companies of Ball. That loss sparked a run by San Antonio who gained 5 of their subsequent six video games after that earlier than the shedding settled in.
Full Field Rating @ NBA.com.
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