The San Antonio Spurs are treating each victory as evidence that their championship timeline may have arrived ahead of schedule. Since the calendar turned to February, the club has rarely stumbled, pushing its record to 47-17 and climbing to No. 2 in both the Western Conference and the overall NBA standings with a little more than a month remaining in the regular season.
The latest statement win came Sunday in Houston, where San Antonio posted season highs in points (145), assists (38) and three-point accuracy (52.5%) while routing the Rockets by 25. “Over the last 15, 20 games we’ve been super comfortable in every single game and given ourselves a chance to win,” rookie guard Stephon Castle said. “We have nothing but confidence coming into every single game.”
Veteran center Luke Kornet, who joined the Spurs this season, compared the surge to the Boston Celtics’ 2022 turnaround that eventually set the stage for their 2024 championship. “That year we went on a roll from January on and were playing a high level of basketball,” he recalled. “It’s been a cool thing to be part of this, especially because of how much we are growing and how young we are.”
Mason Plumlee set for season debut
Mason Plumlee plans to play tonight against Boston, marking his first appearance since groin surgery on December 31, when he was still with Charlotte. The 34-year-old joined San Antonio on a 10-day contract last month before signing for the remainder of the season. “My body feels great,” Plumlee said. “(The Spurs) had a good plan to get me back to playing shape, and I’m ready to go.”
Carter Bryant relishes matchup with idol
Rookie forward Carter Bryant faced boyhood hero Kawhi Leonard for the first time Friday in Los Angeles. Bryant logged five points and three rebounds as the Spurs erased a 25-point deficit against the Clippers. “It gives you a different confidence,” he said. “You walk with a different swag … it’s something I’ve never experienced before, and it’s one of those things that gets addicting.”
Ingram targets steady NBA minutes
Second-round pick Harrison Ingram, fresh off earning G League Player of the Week honors last month, is focused on carving out a consistent role with the Spurs. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson envisions the 21-year-old as a high-energy contributor who embraces “underrated tasks.” Ingram agrees, describing his ideal niche as “rebound, space the floor, off-ball impact … like a Dillon Brooks sort of player.”
Wembanyama’s on-off numbers fuel MVP buzz
First-year phenom Victor Wembanyama continues to anchor San Antonio’s rise. Before Sunday’s win, the Spurs owned a plus-15.5 net rating in 1,426 minutes with the 7-foot-4 rookie on the court, compared with minus-0.3 in 1,603 minutes when he sat, according to The Athletic. The swing has positioned him firmly in the league-wide MVP conversation.
The Spurs’ blend of youthful talent, timely veteran reinforcements and eye-catching metrics has them viewing this season as more than just a developmental step — and their recent results suggest the confidence may be well-placed.
Source: Hoops Rumors
