Spurs Edge TImberwolves In Exciting 113-112 Win

The Spurs edged out the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night 113-112. Devin Vassell led the scoring with 25 points. Victor Wembanyama added 23 points in the win. The Spurs are now 10 and 36 on the season. The Spurs are back in action on Monday night at home against the Wizards.  

SPURS POSTGAME QUOTES: 

Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich: 

(On how the team closed the game in the fourth quarter…)

“I think that they just exhibited a lot of desire to win. A lot of little things. Obviously, Jeremy [Sochan] had that run there where he was spectacular. Devin [Vassell] was spectacular all night. But it’s a loose ball, it’s Keldon [Johnson’s] rebound there at the end giving us an extra possession, the trapping they did down the stretch. They were very physical and covered everybody especially [Karl-Anthony] Towns and [Anthony] Edwards. Those are the two guys, obviously, you worry about the most anyway, and they did a good job with them. We’ll see as the season progresses. We hope we’re getting more habitual and doing things the right way and being more consistent, but the last two nights were wonderful for them.”

(On letting Wembanyama do his thing on the court…)

“With him and Jeremy both, there’s some of that. I didn’t call plays for Jeremy to go score three times in a row or four times in a row. I didn’t say do that and pivot this way and pivot that way then make a pump fake and then do this. That’s what he did. I watched. Players play and having that freedom for people like Jeremy and Victor, I think it’s important. Just as it was for Manu [Ginobili].”

Spurs Forward Keldon Johnson

(on the team’s performance tonight…)

“We played for each other, we played together. As a team we stepped up and made big plays down the stretch and we got stops. That was the main thing. That's big time right there. We all did it together”.

(On the growth of the team…)

“We’re building. We got better tonight and that’s the main thing. As far as turning the corner and things like that, we just continue to stay together and continue to better ourselves each and every day. Go over film together, and like I always say, we win them together, we lose them together. We just stick together, and we keep growing as a team and keep playing. We’re going to get back in the lab, look at some film and get ready for Monday.”

Spurs Forward Victor Wembanyama

(On the fourth quarter…)

“Making shots and having real guys who will take responsibility on the court, staying locked in on defense and playing for each other was key for us today. I think going back to film, we're going to have some beautiful moments.”

(On the last defensive play…)

“I was told to leave my guy and prevent [Karl-Anthony Towns] from catching it in the post, which would have led to a mismatch. So, it did work out. It was a little bit of a scramble, but it worked out pretty well. I haven't seen it again, but the job they did on [Anthony Edwards] on the ball, I think it was phenomenal.”

(On playing Rudy Gobert…)

Tonight is more about playing the first seed or second seed. Of course, I'm excited every time to play against Rudy because of his status in the league as one of the best, if not the best defender. I would say it's more of a challenge to play against Minnesota. That’s what I think about coming onto court.”