Spurs focus on growth after falling to Knicks in NBA Cup final
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LAS VEGAS — The San Antonio Spurs left T-Mobile Arena disappointed but optimistic Tuesday night after a 124-113 defeat to the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup championship game.
Veteran forward Keldon Johnson said the organization is still adjusting to heightened expectations. “I feel like when you have the expectation to win, obviously it means more when you don’t,” he told reporters. “How you respond to that is different, because in past years we didn’t have the expectation to win.”
Full roster together for only the second time
Injuries had plagued the Spurs early in the season, and the final marked just their second contest with every player available. French center Victor Wembanyama, returning from a 12-game absence, came off the bench for the second straight outing and posted 18 points and 16 rebounds. San Antonio, however, was outscored by 18 while the 21-year-old was on the floor.
Wembanyama grew emotional during his postgame news conference, revealing he learned earlier in the day that his grandmother had died in France. He answered two questions before excusing himself.
Late collapse decides the title
The Spurs held an 11-point advantage with 2:07 left in the third quarter but were outscored 35-19 in the final period, including a 23-6 deficit on the glass. Head coach Mitch Johnson called the night a valuable lesson. “It’s our second game all together, playing really competitive games against seasoned teams that have been in similar situations,” he said.
San Antonio reached the final by upsetting the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in Saturday’s semifinal — the first game all season with a healthy lineup and Wembanyama coming off the bench.
Young core shows promise
Rookie guard Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall pick, recorded 21 points and seven rebounds off the bench, his third 20-point effort of the season. Fellow first-year player Stephon Castle added 15 points, seven boards and 12 assists.
“Sky is the limit,” Harper said. “It’s our second game all together again. It’s nothing to overreact about … It teaches us a lot about ourselves, and it’s good that we have a whole lot of room to grow.”
San Antonio has not reached the postseason since the year before selecting Johnson with the 29th pick in the 2019 draft. The team hopes the intense atmosphere of the inaugural NBA Cup will prepare it for a playoff push.
“We’ve just got to continue to build good habits and lean on one another in tough moments,” Johnson said. “Once we hit our stride with everybody, we’ll be in even better shape.”
Source: ESPN
