The Spurs did not have the services of Tony Parker, but they apparently didn’t need his help. San Antonio rode a quick start to a victory over their rival for the Western Conference lead.
The Spurs’ in-game defensive transformation
Soobum Im-USA TODAY SportsEarly on, it looked like the Thunder would rule the day, taking a double-digit lead into the second quarter. Then, the Spurs responded, outscoring Oklahoma City by 23 points the rest of the way.
What changed? The Spurs’ defensive effort.
Read Article >GSW walks all over hobbled Knicks
Ezra ShawStephen Jackson: spin-pass extraordinaire
Soobum Im-USA TODAY SportsKenneth Faried is jumping and catching alley-oops
Parker-less Spurs stifle OKC
Soobum Im-USA TODAY SportsRussell Westbrook, what are you doing?
video via @dailythunder
Read Article >Spencer Hawes: American hero
USA TODAY SportsBrandon Knight hurt for real this time
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY SportsIn 62 games, Knight has averaged 14.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 2012-13.
• RIP Brandon Knight: DeAndre Jordan’s dunk of the year
Read Article >Kawhi Leonard is dunking stuff
Soobum Im-USA TODAY SportsNow, this is an awesome play and a really cool dunk, but I’m pretty sure the Spurs’ announcers almost had a heart attack when they saw this happen. It’s still a sick dunk, don’t get me wrong, but this might have been a *slight* overreaction by Sean Elliot. Or maybe I’m just a hater.
• RIP Brandon Knight: DeAndre Jordan’s dunk of the year
Read Article >Carmelo Anthony to play against Golden State
Debby Wong-USA TODAY SportsUPDATE: Anthony says he will play Monday against Golden State, Marc Berman of the New York Post reports. The Knicks star says he’s no longer playing in pain, just dealing with some stiffness given the fluid built up in his knee.
He is second in the NBA with a 28.2 points-per-game average.
Read Article >Knicks scrappy defense faces slumping Warriors
Debby Wong-USA TODAY SportsBut with or without Anthony, New York will be a tough task for the Warriors.
On the other side of things, coach Mark Jackson’s team also gives up the most three-point attempts per game in the league (23.5). The Warriors are in the top-third of the league in three-point defense, meaning those differentials could go a long way in the final score. How the Warriors limit the Jackson-described “hand-down, man-down” situations will be key.
Read Article >OKC is coming for the Spurs’ No. 1 spot
US PRESSWIREWith a Western Conference-best 48-15 record, the Spurs host the Thunder, who with a win would jump into a tie with San Antonio atop the standings. Never mind that there are the reverberations of last year’s Western Conference Finals series win by Oklahoma City and the resulting flexing of power, but the importance of the playoff positioning for this season is indeed coming down to every game.
Of course, none of that is to say the Spurs don’t dearly miss their dynamic floor general.
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