San Antonio @ Phoenix preview
Footprint Center
Last Meeting ( Oct 31, 2023 ) San Antonio 115, Phoenix 114
The San Antonio Spurs won the first of two matchups with the Phoenix Suns in stunning fashion.
Now the Spurs will attempt to make it a sweep in the rematch on Thursday night in Phoenix.
San Antonio never led in Tuesday's contest until Keldon Johnson put the ball through the net with 1.2 seconds left.
The hoop came shortly after Victor Wembanyama dunked home a putback with 6.8 seconds remaining to bring San Antonio within one.
Phoenix star Kevin Durant received the inbounds pass and was waiting to get fouled in the right corner by Tre Jones. But Johnson came in and stole the ball from Durant with just over four seconds left and drove for the decisive basket.
"I saw Tre had him in the corner and I was just like, the worst that happens is they call a foul," said Johnson, who scored a season-best 27 points. "We had to make something happen."
The basket capped a fourth quarter in which San Antonio outscored Phoenix 33-19 for a 115-114 win.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was pleased to see that his team didn't cave after falling behind by 20 early in the third quarter. San Antonio was whipped 123-83 by the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday in its previous game.
"They responded great," Popovich said. "They kept playing through it. We made a gazillion mistakes, but it's a game of mistakes. We kept playing and that's the best thing. I was really proud of them."
Suns coach Frank Vogel said his team backed off after it grew the big lead.
"We let our foot off the gas a little bit in the third quarter," Vogel said. "It's an early-season lesson for us. Teams are never going to stop playing, especially in the modern NBA when threes can get you back in the game."
Wembanyama recorded 18 points, eight rebounds and a career-high four blocked shots in his fourth NBA game. He is averaging 16.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.3 rejections.
Though Vogel decried the lack of a foul call on the crucial play, veteran guard Eric Gordon knew where the blame truly belonged.
"Anything can happen in this league, and we know better," Gordon said of not protecting the lead. "They kept on grinding and pushing away."
Phoenix was without guards Devin Booker (sprained left ankle) and Bradley Beal (back) on Tuesday, and it is unclear whether either player will be available on Thursday.
Booker was injured in the season opener and the absence would be his fourth straight. Beal, obtained from the Washington Wizards in the offseason, hasn't yet played for the Suns.
"They're working very hard to get back as soon as possible," said Vogel, who didn't provide a timetable for either player's return after Tuesday's game.
Gordon and Grayson Allen were the starting guards against San Antonio and combined to make 9 of 16 3-point attempts. Gordon made four treys while producing 20 points and six assists, while Allen connected on five and had 19 points and seven rebounds.
Durant had 26 points on 12-of-19 shooting with seven assists but also was careless with five turnovers. Durant is averaging 30.3 points in the three games Booker has missed.
San Antonio had dropped nine straight games against Phoenix prior to Tuesday's improbable victory.
--Field Level Media