Wembanyama Calls for Stronger Team Effort After Spurs’ Game 3 Setback
wembanyama-urges-team-play-spurs-game-3-loss
SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama urged the San Antonio Spurs to sharpen their teamwork following a 123-108 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night that put the Spurs behind 2-1 in the Western Conference finals.
The rookie center delivered a game-high 26 points, four rebounds and two blocks, becoming the first Spur with three straight playoff outings of at least 20 points and multiple blocks since Tim Duncan logged eight in a row in 2007. Despite that production, it was San Antonio’s first postseason loss in which Wembanyama scored 25 or more.
“I feel like I’m having trouble making my teammates better right now,” Wembanyama said. “I need to facilitate better, rebound better, push their defense further and then feed my teammates.”
Fast start fizzles
With guard De’Aaron Fox back from a high right ankle sprain, San Antonio raced to a 15-0 lead in the opening 2:37, becoming only the second team since 1997-98 to begin a playoff game with at least a 15-0 run and still lose. Fox scored nine of his 18 points in the first quarter before aggravating the injury late in the game.
Head coach Mitch Johnson said the early burst “wasn’t sustainable,” noting that the team’s pace slowed as the night wore on. When Wembanyama sat, Oklahoma City outscored San Antonio 15-5, erasing most of the advantage.
Turnovers tempered, bench woes mount
The return of Fox and fellow guard Dylan Harper reduced the Spurs’ turnover issues. Rookie Stephon Castle, who had 20 giveaways over Games 1 and 2 — the highest two-game playoff total since tracking began in 1977 — handled the ball less frequently in Game 3.
San Antonio’s reserves, however, were outscored 76-23, pushing the cumulative bench margin in the series to 183-64 for Oklahoma City. Thunder backup guard Jared McCain led the charge with 24 points in 27 minutes.
“Each and every one of us has to be better,” Wembanyama said. “It’s the first playoffs for many of us. Now we’ll see what we’re made of.”
The Spurs, who had not dropped consecutive games since January, host Game 4 on Sunday at Frost Bank Center.
Source: ESPN
