Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives on Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half during the Emirates NBA Cup game at Frost Bank Center on November 19, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas. Photo: Ronald Cortes / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Spurs knocked off the Oklahoma City Thunder 110-to-104 in NBA Cup play last night in San Antonio. Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 22 points. Harrison Barnes added 20 points. The Spurs are now 7 and 8 on the season and will return to action on Thursday night when they host the Jazz. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
SPURS POSTGAME QUOTES
Spurs Acting Head Coach Mitch Johnson
(On closing out the game…)
“They ramped up the pressure, obviously. We knew they were going to make a run, and we needed some guys to make plays, and those guys stepped up. Had a couple shaky possessions on offense. It is tough in this league [to play] for 48 minutes. [It’s] a long game, and we got on our heels a little bit, probably lost our pace. We weren't quite as decisive there in the mid to late fourth quarter, and I thought those guys made some really good shots. I bet when we look back at those possessions, we had a little bit better spacing, a little bit more decisive strong drives, and we didn't let them get us on our heels.”
(On Stephon Castle’s late-game block…)
“He has great defensive instincts. You just see him, and he makes plays. He threw that lob that we’ll slap his wrist for, but he moved on, and that is what he has been really good at. Again, we knew they were going to pick up their aggressiveness and really try to turn the court, slant it and play downhill. I thought we did a good job of weathering their storm, and we made just enough plays to kind of stay enough ahead to have a little bit of breathing room.”
Spurs Guard Stephon Castle
(On the confidence the coaching staff has in him…)
“I think I said this before, but I feel like it just comes from my versatility defensively. I feel like that kind of set it off. And then, just with the playmaking stuff that I can do. I set screens and do whatever I can do on the court to help us win. I feel like that’s where most of the confidence comes from. ”
(On his block on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the end of the game…)
“I didn’t want him to get all the way around me. I was trailing him, and I was kind of on his side. I didn’t know what side he would go up on but I was just trying not to let him get around me or bump me out of the play so I could go up and contest it. ”
Spurs Forward Harrison Barnes
(On what they were able to do defensively in the last minute…)
“They’re a great team with great players, so I think for us down the stretch, it was just about showing the crowd and supporting your teammate, knowing that the guy with the ball is on an island to try to make him take tough shots. I was proud of the way we finished out the game.”
(On what was working for him personally throughout the game…)
“The biggest thing Mitch [Johnson] told us before the game was just go out there and be aggressive. We’re going to make mistakes, and I think the first time that we played them, we didn’t approach it with the same energy and force that we needed to play with. I think guys were maybe overthinking and being timid, so I think the biggest thing for us tonight was just going out there and just playing with energy, knowing we were going to make mistakes and having the full confidence of the coaching staff behind us and just seeing how it all plays out .”
(On Charles Bassey…)
“Bassey has been great. I think his energy is infectious, and I think his ability to stay ready. We knew he was going to play in the Dallas game, and obviously, he gave us a lift, but I think tonight, just his rolling, his finishing, and his defense, just what he was able to bring. We talked a lot about the next-man-up mentality, and he had a little bit of an injury, but I thought Charles came in tonight, and he affected the game in a huge way.”
Spurs Center Charles Bassey
(On being more in the flow…)
“ Yeah, definitely. I mean, you saw last game, I was actually pretty rusty. That was the first time I was playing with these guys in like a year. So, today was a little bit better. They said we were way better defensive today. Everybody was communicating, talking all day, and it was way better today.”
(On bringing energy to the team…)
“ It comes [from] within myself. If I don't bring energy, then who will. This is what I do, and I love this team. Like I said, the guys give me confidence, and they believe in me and I believe in them too. They got a lot of confidence in me with what I bring to the table and to the team. So obviously, I just bring this energy every game, and obviously make sure we can get a win every night.”