The Finals: Spurs win 11th consecutive NBA title in double OT classic, 150-143.

Dejounte Murray was unstoppable.

A close Game 4 turned wild in the 3rd Quarter, with the Phildaelphia 76ers mounting control over the Spurs, fighting for their season, desperate to send the series back to Texas for Game 5. By the end, it would not happen. But on the way there, an instant classic unfolded and the heart of a champion was demonstrated by the San Antonio Spurs, who were dead in the water, down 82-76 heading into the final quarter.

Philly boosted their lead to 14 points as the 4th Quarter got underway, with the defending champions nearly buckling under the road team pressure in front of a hostile crowd that chanted "Defense!" all game long. A sweep looked "not meant to be" as San Antonio's best shooters, Joe Harris & Fred VanVleet, had gone cold for three quarters and the Spurs offensive chemistry on the floor looked fractured at best. Joel Embiid was getting every rebound, swatting Andre Drummond's shots at the rim with ease, frustrating the Spurs big man to the point of a flagrant foul being called in the first overtime period, erasing the small lead once the Spurs finally got it back.

With two-minutes left to play, the Spurs had narrowed the gap to 95-101, a reward for tenacious defensive pressure that became undoubtedly the backbone of their historically great season record (77-5), forcing a backcourt violation into the hands of Brandon Ingram's layup, cutting the gap to four. Murray tussled with Milton for the loose ball on the wing, last touch by Shake for another turnover, which became a dunk by Bazemore (99-101). Embiid hammered it home next, followed up by Murray on the other end, followed up again by Embiid, but the big man fell down on the play, leaving Drummond open for a dunk back down court, only for Embiid to get the rebound after Milton missed at the tin, putting the 76ers up 103-107 with 1:19 on the clock.

Fred VanVleet kept the Spurs alive in the 4th Quarter.

Then Fred VanVleet saved the Spurs, flying off a screen to hit a 3PTer. Embiid crushed a dunk through on the other end, but VanVleet buried another 3PTer to notch the score at 109 with 40s to go. Milton missed the corner 3PT shot, but Brandon Ingram couldn't slay the Sixers at the buzzer as his baseline J went awry.

OverTime basketball in Philadelphia!

Fred VanVleet powered the Spurs onward, giving them a 113-111 advantage as Drummond's block got them the ball back for Murray's dunk on the other end, 115-111: Spurs. Al Horford hit a bunny to cancel out the dunk, but Dejounte dunked it home again past the entire 76ers defense, ala LeBron James v. the Pistons years ago. Next was the flagrant foul by Drummond, spoiling the 4-PT lead. Ingram redeemed the mistake, making it 119-115. Joel Embiid hit again, 119-117. Murray turned the ball over next. Drummond played Embiid well on defense, forcing the layup to roll out, with Kent Bazemore's would-be dagger splashing through, 122-117. Embiid made it 122-119 next, but Ingram hit that J this time around, making it 124-119 with 38 seconds left in OverTime.

Al Horford got a slick pass from Simmons for the layup, and a steal by Embiid on the inbound pass erased the Spurs lead, 124-123. Ingram buried both free throws after an intentional foul. Then Shake Milton hit a bomb from Steph Curry distance, tying the score yet again. Ingram missed a second time nearly at the buzzer, and even Andre Drummond's put-back game-winning shot did not fall, 128-128.

It's tough to win a championship without your best player on the court.

The Spurs caught a huge break early in Double OverTime, when Simmons got whistled for his 6th death-knell of a personal foul. Brandon Ingram dunked A.J. Lawson onto a poster next, but neck-and-neck it still went on, 134-134 then 138-134 after two more dunks by Murray, then 138-138 after a turnover by Ingram for Tobias Harris to score on the fast break, only for Murray to hit a floater over Embiid, 140-138. Murray heroically stole the ball on the next play, setting a Spurs record with 7 steals in the playoffs, as the Spurs haggardly called timeout.

Masterfully, Coach Popovich saw an opening to end the fight and subbed in Joe Harris with 40.6 seconds left in Double OverTime. Harris would go on to bury consecutive 3PT daggers, making it 143-138, then 146-140 after Philly made two free throws as Harris buried the corner splash. Embiid would admirably hit the and-1 lay-in past Drummond to make it 146-143, but the intentional foul game did not reward Phildaelphia as Ingram hit both free throws. With 8.1 on the clock, Tobias Harris had to put up the 3PTer, but it missed and Ingram buried the last two free throws of the NBA Finals. Philly put up the prayer from full court with fighting spirit, but it was over, if only finally.

The Rest:

Brandon Ingram repeated as Finals MVP, averaging 29.2ppg, 6.8rpg, 3.5apg & 2.5spg and staying within the percentages that earned him Most Improved Player honors, 52% from the field overall and 41% from 3PT distance. He scored 45 points in Game 4, going 15-31 from the field with 7 assists, 5 steals & 5 rebounds. Close behind was the spearhead of the Spurs, Dejounte Murray, whose tally of 29 points, 12 assists & 7 steals was truly unforgettable. Fred VanVleet made up for a cold first half to win his first NBA championship on a stat line of 24 points (9/17 FG) with 7 assists, 4 steals on 5 threes. Kent Bazemore had 14 points & 5 assists. Drummond, despite his frustrations with Embiid tonight, had 14 points as well with 11 rebounds, 4 steals and that crucial block down the stretch. Joe Harris had 11 points.

The scoring columns went:

1st Qtr: 21-21

2nd Qtr: 33-25, SA

3rd Qtr: 36-22, PH

4th Qtr: 33-27, SA

OT: 41-34, SA

For Philadelpha, Joel Embiid powered the last stand of the 76ers with 40 points & 25 rebounds with 3 blocks (on Drummond). Ben Simmons fouled out with 21 points & 14 assists (7 turnovers). Al Horford had 17 quality points with 5 boards & 2 steals. Shake Milton scored 16 points with 9 assists, showcasing his playmaking abilities once Simmons exited the game. Tobias Harris had 16 points, with Clint Capela contributing 14 points with 7 rebounds.

Both teams shot 55% (SA) & 60%, respectively. The Spurs made seven more 3PT shots and got four more free throw chances, connecting on all but three with Philly missing three. The Spurs narrowly won the fast break, 31-28, with 98-82 being the lead for Philly on interior scoring. The Spurs had 44 assists, to 39 by the 76ers. By the final buzzer, the Sixers had 30 turnovers as a team to just 11 by San Antone, with the Spurs leading by 12 at one point and the Sixers by 14.

The Finals: Spurs overcome Philly's storm to seize control of title path, 99-93. (3-0)

The 76ers returned home, anxious for a crucial win, and they nearly got it, but not quite as the Spurs touched down in city of brotherly love with as much fire to take control of the NBA Finals. The quarters went: 24-21, SA; 24-14, SA; 24-21, SA & 27-37, PA. Philly shot 3-19 from 3PT range, a lost perimeter cause, with 16 turnovers in another sloppy turnout.

In the heartbreaking loss, Shake Milton had 19 points, 6 rebounds & 6 assists. He still was chilly with 5-13 shooting. Joel Embiid came to life with 20 rebounds and 17 points. Ben Simmons had 16 points, 7 assists, almost making up for 5 turnovers. Clint Capela tried his best to get the win, notching 16 points off the bench. Tobias Harris had 13 points, with Al Horford contributing 6 points with 7 rebounds.

For the Spurs, Kent Bazemore led them to a commanding 3-0 advantage with 26 points. Brandon Ingram scored 24 points. Andre Drummond had 12 points, 13 rebounds & 2 blocks. Dejounte Murray dished 10 assists to go with his 11 points.

The Finals: Spurs beat 76ers again in Game 2, 102-115. (2-0)

The Spurs controlled the 76ers in Game 2, winning the 1st Quarter 13-27. Philly made an admirable effort to come back and make a game of it, but the Spurs won the fourth, 30-22, to seal the victory. Brandon Ingram shined with 28 points & 7 rebounds. Joe Harris got hot for 19 points. Fred VanVleet had 14 points, with Kent Bazemore & Dejounte Murray combining for 26 points, with Murray dishing a career-high 14 assists. P.J. Tucker was back to form for 11 points, hitting three from deep with 2 steals. Andre Drummond & Thomas Bryant combined for 15 rebounds & 15 points.

For the Sixers, Ben Simmons went 5-12 and had 8 gross turnovers, spoiling his 14 assists (13 points). Tobias Harris had 17 points. Shake Milton was cold again, going 3-9, for 12 points. Al Horford managed 12 points, with Clint Capela looking strong (fresh off winning Sixth Man of the Year) with 17 rebounds & 12 points, 2 blocks. Joel Embiid had 12 points, 18 rebounds. A.J. Lawson scored 11 points, getting NBA Finals experience in his rookie year.

The Spurs had 35 assists and only 3 turnovers, compared to 19 awful turnovers by Philadelphia.

The Finals: Spurs outlast 76ers in Game 1, 87-100. (1-0)

Both conference victors split the season series, but the Spurs would strike first in Game 1, fending off the fierce 76ers by thirteen points, pulling away in the 4th Quarter 31-24. Brandon Ingram had 20 points, 8 rebounds with 3 steals.

Dejounte Murray had 19 points, with Fred VanVleet scoring 18 points on four threes. Kent Bazemore had 11 points, as did Luka Samanic. Andre Drummond went 2-8, but saved 17 rebounds. P.J. Tucker returned to action, but scored just 2 points in 11 minutes.

In the narrow loss, Ben Simmons had 20 points & 11 assists with 8 rebounds. Tobias Harris also scored 20, with Al Horford securing a double-double of 10 points, 10 rebounds. Shake Milton's shot was off tonight, going 4-11 and 0-3 from long range. Joel Embiid had 16 rebounds, but scored 9 points.

WCF: Spurs sweep scoreless Clippers, 103-88. (4-0)

The Spurs came out big in Game 4, winning the 1st Quarter, 25-16, along with the other three quarters. Kawhi Leonard was a far cry from his glory days in Texas with 16 points, 6 rebounds & 7 assists on a 7-23 shooting night. Paul George went 4-13, scoring 11 points. Off the bench, Reggie Jackson only hit on 2 of his 8 attempts. Lou Williams tried to save the Clippers' season, but shot 1-7 overall.

In the series-clinching win, Brandon Ingram had 24 points to lead the Spurs. Kent Bazemore had 17 points behind him, with Trey Lyles erupting for 16 points. Andre Drummond had 13 rebounds.

Facing the loss-less Spurs as the only remaining obstacle from the Larry O'Brien trophy is the NBA Finals returning Eastern Conference Champion, Philadelphia 76ers. They got one win last year against the Spurs, but clearly and by far this is a different caliber team meeting them for the greatest prize in the league. San Antonio held the Clippers under 100 points for 3 out of the 4 victories in this series.

WCF: Spurs down Clippers on the road in Game 3, 97-86. (3-0)

Kawhi Leonard scored better tonight with 21 points, taking 21 shots to get there, but Paul George struggled again with just 14 points on 6-16. Patrick Beverley did not help matters, coughing the ball up 5 times, despite scoring 13 points with 7 assists. Landry Shamet & Marcus Morris were the coldest shooters, combining to go 2-13. The scoring struggle came to a head in the 3rd Quarter, as the Spurs beat L.A. there 32-18.

In the significant series victory, Brandon Ingram led San Antone with 28 points & 10 rebounds. Andre Drummond had a good game with 19 points, 17 rebounds & 3 blocks. Dejounte Murray had 14 points & 6 assists, with 13 points coming from Fred VanVleet along with 7 assists. Kent Bazemore had 19 points.

Both teams shot under 50%, with the Spurs overcoming 40% on their end.

WCF: Spurs beat Clippers again, 98-111. (2-0)

The Spurs held the Clippers below 100 points in Game 2, a reward for winning the 1st Quarter, 32-17. Kawhi Leonard had another off shooting night, going 7-17, with Paul George faring even worse (6-18, 1-10 3PT, 13 points). Montrez Harrell had 17 points, 8 rebounds for L.A.; Landry Shamet scored 17 also. Patrick Beverley dished 13 assists to go with 11 points.

In the win, the Spurs were led again by Joe Harris who stayed hot after his career Game 1 performance, notching 19 points tonight and hitting on 5 threes. Brandon Ingram scored 15 points, 7 rebounds. Kent Bazemore chipped in 14 points, and Andre Drummond grabbed 16 rebounds with 12 points. Dejounte Murray didn't score much, but dished 8 assists. Johnathan Williams had 10 rebounds off the bench.

The Spurs have controlled the tempo  in this series, converting it into two victories so far.

WCF: Spurs defeat Clippers in Game 1, 102-111. (1-0)

Fresh off sweeping the Lakers and showing why they were the #2 Western Conference seed, the Clippers struggled to score against the Spurs tonight. To make matters worse, Joe Harris had one of those nights and surpassed a mark set by former Spurs marksmen, Ray Allen, and Patty Mills, along with Warriors premier sniper Klay Thompson, as the clutch shooter buried twelve 3PT shots to make a new record not just for the Spurs as a team but for the entire league. In a career-high effort, Harris finished with 38 points.

The Harris spectacle became the topic of the night and sealed the victory in a close game, after the Spurs won the first quarter 26-18. Fred VanVleet scored 16 points in an otherwise quiet night for San Antonio's star trio: Drummond, Ingram & Murray combined for only 28 points, despite Drummond grabbing 19 rebounds with 6 mighty blocks. Murray also dished 7 assists.

"He was incredible. People forget he won the 3PT Shootout a couple years back. Only takes one going in for his eyes to light up," Coach Popovich said on Harris' career night. For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard had 29 points but shot 9-19 and 0-6 from 3PT range. Paul George had 17 points, 7 assists. JaMychal Green had 16 points, 12 rebounds & Montrez Harrell sealed 12 points with 9 rebounds.

WCSF: Spurs move on as Jazz sans Gobert bow out, 118-104. (4-0)

In Gobert's stead, Ed Davis played admirably for 24 points, 18 rebounds with 1 block, but it just wasn't enough, even with Donovan Mitchell finally looking on-point with 23 points, 7 assists (9-16 FG, 3-3 3PT). Mike Conley had 15 points, 9 rebounds, but without Gobert down low, the Spurs feasted on the Jazz.

San Antonio won the 1st Quarter big, again, this time 30-14, then won the next two quarters, 30-18 for the 3rd. Utah made a valiant comeback, 47-30, but still lost by sixteen points.

A reversal of fortune this season, no doubt, with the Jazz down one of their key players. Brandon Ingram had 23 points for the Spurs, with 4 steals. Andre Drummond terrorized the Jazz interior with 16 points & 25 monstrous rebounds. Kent Bazemore had 14 points, with Trey Lyles notching 12 of his own. Dejounte Murray had 10 points with Joe Harris & Luka Samanic combining for 17.

In other surprising news, the L.A. Clippers succeeded at a shocking sweep of the Lakers after beating them in two close games to face the Spurs next. A minor injury to P.J. Tucker's wrist will keep him out until then, but the Spurs didn't need him tonight as the story was all about Gobert's absence.

WCSF: Spurs fend off Jazz as Gobert suffers injury, 102-92. (3-0)

As the Western Conference Semi Finals shifted to Salt Lake City, the Jazz nearly made it a 2-1 affair were it not for Rudy Gobert suffering an ill-boding injury late in what was a close game. The Spurs won the 1st Quarter, 24-17, but the Jazz won the second 23-26, before losing Gobert's services and losing the second half, 55-49.

Brandon Ingram scored 20 points, with Murray scoring 18 behind him. Fred VanVleet got cooking for 17 points. Kent Bazemore hit hard for 16 points, and Drummond corralled 13 rebounds. Joe Harris & P.J. Tucker scored 16 between the two of them and four threes.

In narrow defeat, Mike Conley had 20 points & 10 assists, but eight bad turnovers. Rudy Gobert before going down had 18 points & 19 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell, however, was the missing link tonight, as he went cold on a 5-17 clip (14 points). Joe Ingles & Bojan Bogdanovic finally got going, too, scoring 25 points together. Notably, ex-Spur Michael Carter-Williams had 7 ugly turnovers to make matters worse.

Update: Rudy Gobert expected to miss Game 4 due to right knee sprain.

WCSF: Spurs blow out Jazz in Game 2, 90-120. (2-0)

The Jazz were arguably out of the running after one quarter tonight, going down big 14-37 after the 1st. They won the second quarter, 30-25, but lost the second half, 25-27 & 21-31.

In defeat, Rudy Gobert had 21 rebounds & 17 points. Ed Davis looked nice with 9 rebounds & 8 points. Donovan Mitchell almost got going for 17 points, 8-17 overall. Mike Conley tried to spark a comeback with 21 points, but the Spurs were too strong tonight, allowing only four three-pointers made by Utah.

In the blowout win, Brandon Ingram scored 28 points & 11 rebounds. Dejounte Murray commanded the offense with 22 points & 7 assists, hitting two 3PT shots. Kent Bazemore chipped in 17, hitting three from deep & Andre Drummond yanked down 20 rebounds with 4 blocks & 13 points. Fred VanVleet scored 11 points with Joe Harris contributing 10.

WCSF: Spurs defeat Jazz in Game 1, 89-102. (1-0)

The Spurs came ready for a fight against the team who last year took them to 7 games, and cost them Brandon Ingram for that seventh game due to injury, but tonight the Slender-Man took charge for 24 points. The Jazz stayed close, but lost the 1st Quarter 14-24 then the 3rd Quarter, 20-33.

Kent Bazemore looked sharp with 16 points & 7 assists, hitting four threes. Dejounte Murray dished 6 assists to go with 14 points, and Thomas Bryan had 11 points off the bench. Andre Drummond had a quiet 7 points, 9 rebounds, but 6 mighty blocks against the Jazz tonight. Luka Samanic combined with P.J. Tucker & Fred VanVleet for 25 points as a trio.

Rudy Gobert looked great tonight, scoring 27 points & 27 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell had a chilly outing, spoiling what could've been a Game 1 upset, going 8-22 and 1-8 from 3PT territory for 18 points. Mike Conley had a rough night with four turnovers, scoring 14 points & 8 assists. Bojan Bogdanovic had 10 points, but shot just 5-12 and went scoreless from the perimeter.

WCQF: Spurs finish off Suns in Game 4, 109-93. (4-0)

DeAndre Ayton played his heart out in this series, and much should be said for the Phoenix Suns improving so much over last season and fighting their way into the playoffs, even going so far as to defeat the history-making 77-5 San Antonio Spurs on the way there. Getting swept comes with a sting unlike any other pain, but the Suns should be very proud and look forward to next season with their heads high.

They stood pat with the Spurs in the 1st Quarter, 24-24, but lost footing in the second, 33-23, then badly got beaten in the 3rd, 38-19, which all but quieted the home crowd, reality setting in for this young team.

Phoenix sparked a big-time run in the 4th Quarter, winning that 27-14, but it was still too late. The Suns had eleven turnovers, to only four by the Spurs. Ayton had 27 points, 15 rebounds, looking amazing for the future of this team. Devin Booker, however, scored 14 points and hit only half of his shots, book-ending a bad series for him. Khris Dunn shot 2-11, not giving Ricky Rubio much to work with (4 assists). Mikal Bridges shot 2-7 and Kelly Oubre, Jr. went 0-3 from deep.

For the Spurs, Fred VanVleet scored 17 points. Dejounte Murray notched 16 points, and Kent Bazemore scored 12. Brandon Ingram had a quiet night with 11 points, going 5-14. PJ Tucker scored 11 solid points, hitting three from long range. Joe Harris hit three, for good measure.

WCQF: Spurs obliterate Suns in Game 3, 104-88. (3-0)

Returning home did not cure Phoenix's woes, as they got squashed in the 1st Quarter by the road squad, 35-18, then 25-20 in the 2nd Quarter, facing a 60-38 deficit at halftime.

DeAndre Ayton looked bright again for the Suns, scoring 27 points & 15 rebounds but again had little support. Devin Booker scored only 12 points this time around, going 1-5 from long range and 5-11 overall. Ricky Rubio had 8 assists, 7 rebounds & 10 points but shot just 3-11 and 0-3 from long range. Khris Dunn went 1-7.

For the Spurs, Andre Drummond had 21 points & 15 rebounds. Dejounte Murray scored a strong 18 points, and so did Brandon Ingram to go with 11 rebounds. Fred VanVleet scored 14 points, hitting four 3PT daggers. Trey Lyles scored ten for the Spurs tonight.

WCQF: Spurs down Suns in Game 2 as Booker struggles, 94-104. (2-0)

A close first half set the tone for Game 2, with the Spurs losing the 1st Quarter (27-24) and winning the second, 23-27. It took three quarters, but the Spurs finally outscored the Suns (31-18) to seize a commanding lead, ultimately winning by ten points. Brandon Ingram was sensational with 29 points. Dejounte Murray finally overcame his demons against the Suns this year, going on to have a strong outing with 19 poins & 10 assists. Kent Bazemore contributed 19 points, hitting 4 threes, with 11 points & 11 assists backing him up from Fred VanVleet. Meanwhile, Andre Drummond crushed the glass with 28 dominant rebounds.

For the Suns, Devin Booker had a cold night on his hands with just 9 points, shooting 0-5 from long range and 4-13 overall. DeAndre Ayton managed 24 points, 19 rebounds with 5 impressive blocks. Dario Saric helped him with 19 points, but the Suns just didn't have enough tonight to stick with the home team. Ricky Rubio shot 3-10, Mikal Bridges went 2-6 & Kelly Oubre, Jr. only hit on 2 of his 7 shots.

The Spurs led by as many as 19 points.

WCQF: Spurs stagger for most of Game 1 then rally to win, 110-113. (1-0)

Phoenix nearly stole Game 1.

After a tumultuous first half separated by only two points, the Suns had the Spurs dead-to-rights after winning the 3rd Quarter, finding themselves up 99-83 in the champion's arena with no shots falling for the home team. 6:11 showed on the clock, a 16-PT deficit courtesy of a 14-4 blitz by the youthful Suns. Miraculously, that Texas fighting spirit sparked to life, as the Spurs ended Game 1 on a 30-11 rally of resurgence.

Credit must go to Fred VanVleet, whose five 3PT beauties got him 21 points on the night. The entire Spurs team overcame foul trouble, with FVV enduring five personal fouls to help the cause. Brandon Ingram ignited for 32 points, 2 steals & 2 blocks, shooting 11-19 and hitting two clutch 3PT shots. Andre Drummond was the spark of the comeback, grabbing 15 rebounds and giving the Spurs 15 second-chance points en route to fifteen threes as a team.

Drummond scored 16 points with 3 blocks. P.J. Tucker was also essential, filling in for a chilly 4-16 shooting night by Kent Bazemore (11 points), scoring 13 points and hitting three veteran-savvy perimeter strokes of survival. Dejounte Murray still has yet to decipher the Suns defensive strategy against him, having struggled to have his typical big scoring nights in all five games so far this season. He managed 10 points with 9 assists to make up for it, but shot 5-14. Joe Harris provided some help with 8 points, hitting an impressive floater over DeAndre Ayton (22 points, 23 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 11-17 FG%) and a trademark 3PTer during the fourth quarter upheaval.

In the stunning debacle, Devin Booker had a rocky night, going 6-13 for just 15 points. Ricky Rubio had 7 assists, but just 13 points, going 5-12. Kelly Oubre, Jr. paired with Dario Saric for 26 points. Mikal Bridges had 12 points & Frank Kaminksy III had 10 points. Phoenix lost the 4th Quarter, 25-36.

The Rest:

The Suns shot 55%, with just 47% by the Spurs. They only hit on six 3PT attempts, however, totaling 12 turnovers compared to only six by the Spurs. After losing the paint battle 74-50 and the fast break 25-13, Coach Popovich was not fond of the details despite the huge turnaround win. "We've got to be better. It's that simple. They had us calling in the priest. I'm proud of our effort to sneak out the back, but we've gotta man the front a lot better."

Spurs finish season 77-5, set new team win/loss record; Pop wins COTY; Andre Drummond earns MVP award & DPOY, Ingram snatches MIP, prep for Suns.

The Spurs ended the season with 15 straight victories, setting a new league record with 77 wins and only 5 losses, two of which came courtesy of the Phoenix Suns (41-41) who've made the playoffs after a last night knockout game against the Denver Nuggets, a follow-up crescendo to a huge overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in what has been a turnaround season for the young Suns.

Three Spurs players earned recognition in the award races this season, with Fred VanVleet having a tremendous first season with San Antonio. He improved his 3PT percentage from 37% to 44%, averaging 12.7 points-per-game compared to 9.4 in Toronto last season. His turnovers-per-game are also down from 1.5 to .9 and he averaged 4.8 assists-per-game, up from 3.9 a year ago. A definite candidate for Most Improved Player, it was still not as impressive as Brandon Ingram.

The Slender-Man in his third season with the Spurs averaged 22.7 points-per-game, up from 17.9, averaging .2 more rebounds per game, .3 more steals per game, .2 more blocks per game, but most impressively earned his membership into the hallowed "50/40/90" club. Ingram capped this season by making 50.7% of his field goals, remarkably shot 41.7% from the perimeter (a stark improvement from 32.6% last season) and made 91.5% of his free throws (up from 80% last season). Without question, Ingram showed the most improvement of any player in the league. Highlights this season included multiple 20-point performances, several 30-point games, some 40-point games, and best of all a career-high spectacle of 63 points.

The toughest decision yet came from having to choose between Ingram and newest Spur centerpiece, Andre Drummond. The Big Penguin joined only two other great players, Michael Jordan & Hakeem Olajuwon, in winning both Defensive Player of the Year honors and the coveted Most Valuable Player award. Without question, Drummond's impact on the defensive end of the court catapulted the Spurs to make league history with a 77-5 record. Drummond led the league in both rebounds per game, 16rpg, and blocks per game, 2.7bpg, edging out Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert & Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The most significant argument for Ingram to win the MVP award would've been Points-Per-Game, but Andre Drummond had the highest +/- rating of all players in the NBA this season, and when he went down in the first meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers after suffering a sprained wrist, the entire Spurs defense crumbled with it. He may have only averaged 11.8ppg, but worked hard with shooting coach Chip England this season to improve drastically from the free throw line to hit 81% of his shots from the charity stripe, warding off opposing teams to hack-a-Drummond anymore. He even made some 3PT shots this season (27.8%), with his rebound-per-game rate tying his 17-18 season. The big man also was very shrewd with the basketball this season, averaging only .8 turnovers per game, way down from 2.1 the last few seasons and dishing 2.7 assists per game.

"That's exactly why we signed him this summer," Coach Popovich spoke highly of Drummond. "He's the best center we've had since The Admiral, and we've sorely needed his impact for years. He makes his teammates better. He plays the game with a fire that is just truly a joy to watch. That's why he's the MVP."

Drummond received the most votes by far for MVP this season, especially due to how he helped his teammates improve by covering the glass with his towering interior presence and stellar defensive pressure, allowing them to focus on their own individual improvements, notably Ingram & VanVleet. Let us not forget Dejounte Murray's improvement this season also, averaging .5 less turnovers and shooting 6% better from long range while dishing .6 more assists per game and shooting 3% better from the field. Kent Bazemore had a strong first season with the Spurs as well, and Drummond was definitely a catalyst for the Spurs having such a great season.

The Playoffs have arrived, and so have the hungry Phoenix Suns. "Part of us wants to play them again. They got us twice this season. Monty Williams has done a fantastic job coaching that team. We're excited for the challenge," Coach Pop said at practice before Game 1 tips off!

Spurs edge Clippers in final regular season meeting (92-93), rally past Wizards (103-90).

Trey Lyles had a breakout night with 22 points, 10 rebounds against the Wizards in a game that had the Spurs down early, losing the 1st Quarter 12-24. It was a furious comeback in the 3rd Quarter, 38-21, and a cold 4th Quarter close by the Wizards that got the win for the Spurs in the Nation's capital.

Kent Bazemore had another strong outing with 23 points. Fred VanVleet scored 19 points & former Wizard, Thomas Bryant, had 15 rebounds. Ex-Spur, Jarrett Allen, had 15 points & 17 rebounds. Bradley Beal shot 7-20, faring badly in the final period as Washington let this one slip away, ending with 22 points.

Back in the Lone Star State, the Spurs edged the Clippers by a single point as Kawhi Leonard (19 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists) made a pull-up jumper, but then Brandon Ingram (22 points) stole his thunder with a layup down the fast break lane to win the game once Patrick Beverley (9 points, 2-8 FG) missed at the buzzer. Fred VanVleet had 17 points, hitting five 3PT bombs. Andre Drummond devoured 21 rebounds with 12 points and Luka Samanic scored 12 points. Dejounte Murray struggled for just 8 points, 7 assists on a 4-13 night.

For the Clippers, Paul George scored 17 points. The Clippers remain the #2 seed with single-digit games left on the schedule.

San Antonio endure early challenge by Heat, cruise to win

Brandon Ingram guarded Jimmy Butler (18 points, 8-19 FG, 1-5 3PT) all game long, scoring 22 points of his own in the first half. Not even the slick new blue/pink uniforms could get the Heat over the hump tonight, losing badly at home.

Notably, they did not lose by 50 points again, but superior play-making separated the Spurs tonight as they led by 12 points heading into the final period. San Antonio won the 3rd Quarter 32-22 after a contentious first half battle. Bam Adebayo led Miami with 26 points, 15 rebounds.

The Slender-Man finished the win with 28 points, with Andre Drummond scoring 20 points & 14 rebounds. Kent Bazemore notched 15 points on the night.

Spurs control Hawks in second half, win 121-109.

Kent Bazemore had another great performance against one of his former teams, scoring 25 points and hitting another five three-point bombs. Joe Harris got hot tonight, scoring 22 points. P.J. Tucker continues to earn a spot in the potential playoff rotation with 16 points, hitting three from deep.

Fred VanVleet had 15 points, with Drummond notching 10 points, 13 rebounds with 3 blocks. Meanwhile, Rajon Rondo had 12 assists to go with 8 points as Dejounte Murray & Brandon Ingram took the night off.

For Atlanta, their effort vanished in the second half, losing the third 30-22 after losing the first quarter, 27-18 and stalemating San Antone 32-32 in the second quarter. They did win the 4th Quarter, 37-32, but it was too late. The Spurs amazingly hit 17-27 from 3PT range. Trae Young wounded up with 23 points, 9 assists, with DeAndre Hunter scoring 22 points.

San Antonio earns the season series split in big win over Finals opponent, 76ers: 118-131.

Brandon Ingram scored 28 points, and Kent Bazemore (27 points, 5 threes, 4 steals) came alive as the Spurs weathered a big fight from the eastern conference's toughest squad, overcoming an early deficit to spark a 3rd Quarter run. Leading into the 4th Quarter by 15 points, the Spurs got the "W" in convincing fashion as Joe Harris (19 points, 5 threes) kept burying 3PT daggers and Andre Drummond showed Philly that his wrist was just fine this time around, on his way to a 16 points, 19 rebounds performance.

Fred VanVleet dished 13 assists, approaching his career-high in dimes, scoring 7 points as well. Dejounte Murray had 19 points & 9 assists. Ingram got the highlight play of the game, swatting the ball down as Al Horford rose up for a layup attempt.

For the Sixers, Ben Simmons scored 14 points with 9 assists, 3 turnovers. Tobias Harris (14 points) had a chilly shooting night, going 6-13 from the field with Shake Milton notching 17 points. Al Horford finished the night with 11 points. Joel Embiid had 19 points, 19 rebounds to lead the Sixers. Behind him, Clint Capela had 12 points, 7 rebounds, catching a nice alley oop during the early run by Philly. However, the 76ers had 14 turnovers and only made five shots from long range, compared to 18 threes by the Spurs. Free throw shooting was also a problem, as Philly went 17/24 in what was mostly a close game.

If the stars align this summer, we'll see the Spurs and 76ers at least four more times. With two contentious battles in the books, it promises to be a great potential NBA Finals rematch (4-1, Spurs last year) in what has become a fierce rivalry between two tough-minded defensive squads.

Spurs sweep Rockets, win 94-106.

Fred VanVleet had 20 points, but had an off night shooting the 3-ball (3-10 3PT), but luckily Kent Bazemore's 19 points got the Spurs the win tonight, with Bazemore hitting five from deep. Brandon Ingram had 16 points in also a cold shooting spectacle, but managed 3 steals & 2 blocks.

Andre Drummond was the key component with 21 rebounds, 15 points. Dejounte Murray dished 8 assists to go with his twelve points.

For Houston, Russell Westbrook scored 24 points, 7 rebounds & 7 assists. James Harden had another cold night, scoring 18 points & 7 assists on a 5-17 clip (1-7 3PT) with six turnovers between Houston's brightest stars.

The Spurs only had 3 turnovers as a team, rolling to victory tonight.

Spurs defeat Kings at home, win 93-101.

On a night with limited minutes for the star trio, Thomas Bryant took up the mantle and led the Spurs to a close win down the stretch with 29 points, 11 rebounds. Joe Harris chipped in 14 points, with 12 points coming from Fred VanVleet. In limited action, Ingram, Murray & Drummond combined for 21 points, with Drummond grabbing 8 boards.

Marvin Bagley, III shined for Sac-Town again, scoring 19 points & 13 rebounds. Aaron Gordon had a decent night with 17 points, but shot just 7-16. DeAaron Fox had 16 points, 10 assists but missed two crucial free throws late that all but lost the game for the Kings, especially when Joe Harris buried a dagger from downtown to make it a six-point lead.

Richaun Holmes scored 12 points, 15 rebounds for the Kings; Kyle Kuzma scored eleven.

San Antone outlast run by Rockets, 96-95.

The Rockets came into this home game against the Spurs on an eight-game losing streak that was only extended by the buzzer, as Brandon Ingram nearly had a perfect 1st Quarter with 18 points. The Duke star finished with 31 points. Flawless interior scoring by the Spurs shot them out to a 20-PT advantage by halftime as the Rockets continue to fall apart at the seams, sporting a 20-45 win/loss record this season as they are nowhere near playoff contention in the western conference, with a surefire top-to-bottom team blow-up bound to happen this summer.

To their credit, the Rockets put together a stunning rally for the home crowd, stealing the lead away if only for a breath, as Dejounte Murray dunked the Spurs to a road victory as Harden followed with a tough 3PT miss at the buzzer.

The Rest:

The Spurs won the 1st Quarter, 33-20. But it was Houston that won the second half, 26-19 & 26-16. Andre Drummond had 11 points, 13 rebounds with 2 blocks. Robert Covington had 25 points. Russell Westbrook scored 21 points, 9 rebounds with 7 assists but shot just 9-16. Still, he fared better than James Harden (17 points, 7-17, 1-8 3PT) and Eric Gordon (1-7, 0-6 3PT) as the three-ball simply refused to fall for the Rockets.

Ingram lifts Spurs past fierce road effort by Pelicans, 116-123.

Brandon Ingram took charge of the Spurs tonight, scoring 43 points in what became a very tough contest courtesy of a career-high 20 assists by fellow ex-Laker Lonzo Ball (17 points), who got his first layup attempt swatted by former teammate, Ingram, before involving Nikolai Vucevic (30 points, 8 rebounds) & sophomore sensation Zion Williamson (30 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks).

Supernova in his own right notwistanding, Ingram benefited from Andre Drummond (12 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks) being a force down low, as the Spurs eventually seized control late after overcoming an eight-point deficit. The Pelicans stayed within two points in the final minute, before a huge 3PTer by Ingram sealed the deal, courtesy of an offensive rebound by Drummond.

The Rest:

Dejounte Murray had 17 points, 7 rebounds & 12 assists. Kent Bazemore also scored 17 points, with 3 steals. P.J. Tucker contributed 12 points, hitting 4 three-pointers. Fred VanVleet had 10 points with 8 assists, whereas Joe Harris buried a trio of threes. The Pelicans only made one 3PT shot as a team. The Spurs pulled away late to win the 4th Quarter, 23-34.

Spurned Spurs retaliate, crushing Heat by fifty: 79-129.

The Heat shot the ball so poorly, it got them whooped by fifty points, a season-high point spread mark by San Antonio, finding themselves back in the win margin once again. Brandon Ingram got that pass from Murray tonight, scorching Miami for 33 points & 11 rebounds with 4 steals. Murray, meanwhile, notched 27 points & 10 assists, redeeming himself after his blunder in Phoenix. Murray also snagged four steals.

The Rest: Kent Bazemore had 15 points, going a sweet 5-8 from long range as he improves to 37% overall after a cold slump last month. VanVleet notched 10 points, and Iman Shumpert got some burn for ten of his own. Andre Drummond smothered the interior for 23 rebounds & 7 assists to go with 8 tremendous blocks. P.J. Tucker scored 8, hitting two threes. Harris had 7. The Spurs won all four quarters: 14-31, 27-35, 17-29 & 21-34.

Former Spur, Skal Labissiere led the Heat with 15 points & 6 rebounds. Nico Mannion had 12 points, 7 assists. Kevin Love had just 10 points, 7 rebounds. Jimmy Butler had an awful game, with just 7 points on 3-10 shooting. Miami shot 41% for the game, going an ice cold 0-18 from 3PT territory with 16 turnovers.

Spunky Suns snap 27-game win streak, 112-116.

DeAndre Ayton had a career-high 20 rebounds to go with 27 points, whereas Dejounte Murray made a mental blunder catching the inbound pass as one foot dangled over the half-court line, on what Coach Popovich revealed post-game was meant to be an ISO jumper-attempt to win the game by Brandon Ingram (20 points, 7-16). Instead, Devin Booker hit a go-ahead push jumper at the free throw line and Ingram drew contact but missed a layup at the buzzer as the win streak crumbled in the valley of the sun.

The Suns become now the only team to defeat the titanic Spurs twice this season, claiming two of the team's only five defeats. "They play with heart," Coach Pop spoke highly of the Suns, who find themselves behind the #8 seed Golden State Warriors, having slipped a bit recently after a turnaround season. "Depending on where the ball drops at season's end, we could be seeing them again." If Phoenix uses this huge victory to go on a much-needed run, they could very well play against San Antonio in the first round of the playoffs. Time will tell...

Meanwhile, Murray had a poor showing with only 11 points. Kent Bazemore scored 16 points, as the Spurs tried to involve Andre Drummond to no avail, going 5-12 with just 10 points, 10 rebounds. P.J. Tucker continued to play well, notching 14 points. Fred VanVleet has surged into 44% from 3PT range on the season, going 4-7 tonight for 14 points also, as Joe Harris scored 9 points and nearly won the game for the Spurs, only for the champions to blow a 103-96 advantage.

The Rest:

Thomas Bryant scored 11 points. Rajon Rondo had 8 assists. For the Suns, Brandon Ingram chased Devin Booker off the 3PT line, but he still finished with 24 points. Frank Kaminsky had a terrific game with 19 points, going 3-3 from long range. Dario Saric also had a strong 15 points.

3rd Quarter boosts Spurs past Jazz, 104-92.

The Jazz were bludgeoned by the Spurs in the 3rd Quarter, 34-21, after an otherwise close encounter with its longtime rival. The Spurs came out hot in Utah, 28-20, but the Jazz broke even 21-20 in the second. They even managed to claw back within 6 points, winning the 4th Quarter 30-22, before falling short.

Brandon Ingram led the Spurs with 24 points. Fred VanVleet had 16 points, hitting 4 threes. Dejounte Murray dished 10 stellar dimes, with 14 points & 3 steals. Kent Bazemore had 13 points, with Andre Drummond corralling 22 rebounds with 6 blocks. Trey Lyles had 9 points.

For the Jazz, Rudy Gobert had 16 points & 12 rebounds. Mike Conley, however, had six turnovers with just 13 points & 8 assists. Bojan Bogdanovic had 13 points. Donovan Mitchell went a cold 5-12, for just 12 points.

San Antonio rallies to down Kings on road, 97-82.

The Spurs won the 4th Quarter, 23-13, the perfect compliment to a 24-16 win in the 3rd, recuperating after Sacramento came back to win the second, 31-20, after the Spurs won the 1st, 30-22. Another low-scoring affair saw both teams shooting 37% & 39%, but the Kings shot just 3/18 from long range. The Spurs fired in desperation at certain moments, but it paid off as they buried 18 long-bombs.

For the Kings, they were led by Marvin Bagley, III's 13 points, 10 rebounds. De'Aaron Fox scored just 10 points with 7 assists. Aaron Gordon shot 4-12, going 1-4 from long range. Kyle Kuzma went way cold for 6 points, going 3-10 & 0-3 from 3PT range. Evan Fournier, Richaun Holmes & Dennis Schroder went a combined 5-20 from the field, with Harrison Barnes going 3-12 by his lonesome.

San Antone was led by Fred VanVleet's 21 points, as he went a flawless 5-5 from 3PT territory. Kent Bazemore shined bright for 19 points, hitting five threes. Brandon Ingram notched 18 points, with Dejounte dropping 14. Andre Drummond was the difference-maker, demanding 24 rebounds. Joe Harris had 12 points.

Spurs top T'Wolves again, 125-109.

The Timberwolves fared much better compared to the last meeting, but still fell short against San Antonio. In the loss, D'Angelo Russell scored 23 points with 14 assists (8-19 FG, 2-4 3PT). Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points, 10 rebounds with 4 blocks. Ex-Spur, T.J. Warren, scored 17 points with Jarrett Culver contributing 15 points. It was a 4th Quarter swing, 34-26 that helped the Spurs pull this win off, having enough momentum left over from a 37-22 1st Quarter blitz.

The Slender-Man led the Spurs with 28 points, going 13-16 & 2-2 from 3PT distance. Murray backed up Ingram with 22 points, 8 assists. Kent Bazemore continues to play well, scoring 17 points on 5-8 3PT shooting. Andre Drummond had 15 points, 7 rebounds with Thomas Bryant grabbing down 9 boards.

Smart basketball breeds success, as the Spurs only had 7 turnovers to 14 by Minnesota.

Spurs cruise past Hornets, 76-115.

Andre Drummond was all smiles as the Spurs rolled to a big home victory, with the big man dropping 23 points, 16 rebounds with 7 assists, 4 blocks & 5 steals in a masterful performance. Fred VanVleet ran the offense as Murray & Ingram took the night off, dishing 12 assists with 16 points & 3 steals. Joe Harris droppeed 16 points, hitting 4-5 from long range, as Bazemore & Tucker combined for 26 points. The Hornets barely scored in the 1st Quarter, losing it 8-36. Jonas Valanciunas had 12 points, 11 rebounds & Colin Sexton scored 14 points. Charlotte shot just 41%, going 5-16 from long range with 17 turnovers. The Spurs hit sixteen daggers, shooting 57% overall and scorching the court for 57 fast-break points.

Spurs claw out road win over Grizzlies, 94-85.

Ja Morant tried his hardest, going for 26 points & 7 assists (10-19 FG), with Jarren Jackson, Jr. scoring 15 points & 14 rebounds, but the Memphis Grizzlies went cold late against the Spurs. Malik Beasley had a cold game, going 3-13 & 0-5 from 3PT range. Paul Millsap had just 10 points, 12 rebounds.

For the Spurs, a 24-17 4th Quarter yield was enough to pull out the victory, led by Brandon Ingram's 23 points & 7 rebounds. Dejounte Murray had 17 points. Andre Drummond was a force for 19 rebounds, but shot poorly on a 2-11 night. Kent Bazemore & P.J. Tucker combined for 25 points. Fred VanVleet had a sharp 11 assists.

Both teams shot 38% & 41% respectively, with the worse-off team winning the game. The Grizz went 4-17 from long range, as the Spurs only had 3 to Memphis' ten turnovers--enough to be the difference.

Spurs obliterate Timberwolves as Murray reaches new career-high, 115-145.

The Spurs clobbered the visiting Timberwolves tonight, as Dejounte Murray soared to a new career-high with 41 points & 12 assists. Murray shot 18-24 with 4 steals. Not far behind was Brandon Ingram's 36 points, going 14-19. Kent Bazemore had 14 points, hitting two threes with 5 assists. Joe Harris scored 13 & P.J. Tucker had 11, hitting three threes. Andre Drummond notched 12 points, 14 rebounds with 3 blocks.

The Spurs won all four quarters: 23-38, 33-35, 26-33 & 33-39. The Timberwolves were unusually led by third-string center Bruno Fernando with 18 points. Jarrett Culver managed 14 points, going 4-11. KAT had 13 points, 14 rebounds. D'Angelo Russell had only 7 points. The Spurs were on fire, shooting 62% and hitting fourteen 3PTers. The Wolves shot just 8/25 from deep, coughing the ball up 15 times. The Spurs had 38 assists, with 74 points in the paint.

Spurs sweep Lakers in season series, 95-103.

Anthony Davis did everything he could, spearheading a furious Lakers road effort to take a 12-PT lead. Topsy-turvy to last season, the Lakers find themselves unable to defeat the Spurs.

Somehow, someway, the Spurs would not say die and came back to win the whole shebang, courtesy of stellar shooting by Fred VanVleet (4-8 3PT, 14 points). Joe Harris came through in the clutch also, hitting two long bombs, but it was Andre Drummond alley-ooping his team to victory, breaking up would-be slams between LBJ & A.D. when it mattered most, an athletic weapon that the Spurs did not have last year in the playoffs. The Big Penguin finished with 23 points, 15 rebounds.

Dejounte Murray scored 18 points, 7 rebounds with 8 assists despite 3 fouls. Brandon Ingram was the high man for the west's best team, impressing the home crowd with 26 points & 12 rebounds. Kent Bazemore continued to struggle, going 0-4 from long range, but PJ Tucker scored 8 points hitting two threes to help stop the drought. The Spurs won the 4th Quarter, 18-29. The rest of the quarters went 21-27, SA; 32-21, LA & 26-24, SA.

In defeat, Davis had 19 points & 6 rebounds. LeBron James had 7 assists, 6 rebounds with 15 points. Jrue Holiday had 14 points, 7 assists. The perimeter shooting just wasn't there, as Dion Waiters & KCP shot poorly and the entire Lakers squad going 6-24. Meanwhile, the Spurs played more tightly this time around, giving up only six turnovers.

With the victory, the Spurs improve to 56-4 on the season, cruising to the top seed with just 22 games left to be played, a pace that could become the team's best record of the dynastic decade. Looking ahead, two of the four teams worthy enough to defeat the Spurs this season will meet San Antonio one last time (Suns and 76ers) with a final game against the Clippers (who've firmly moved into the #2 seed in the Western Conference standings) on the horizon as well.

Spurs top testy Pacers, 98-106 in Texas.

Brandon Ingram led the Spurs to a gritty win over the tough Indiana Pacers, whom with a better performance by Myles Turner may have stolen this game. The Slender-Man had 22 points, 7 rebounds. P.J. Tucker had a breakout night with 20 points, hitting a dazzling six 3PT shots. Dejounte Murray had a solid 16 points, with Fred VanVleet dropping 13 with 2 steals (4-8 3PT, 42% avg this season). Drummond tormented the glass with 17 rebounds, as did Thomas Bryant (11 rebounds).

For Indiana, it took a 4th Quarter swing in San Antonio's favor to prove the difference, 25-35, in the Spurs direction, as Victor Oladipo scored 19 points. James Johnson had 12 points, 9 rebounds with Malcolm Brogdon finishing with 10 points & 6 assists. Myles Turner had 13 points, but only 6 points (1-10 FG). The Pacers won the third period, 27-22, nearly buckling the home team were it not for its stars coming through for the San Antonio faithful.

The Lakers are next to visit, the last of the season series that the Spurs lead 3-0.

Spurs edge Lakers in war of attrition, 92-87.

Both teams did not shoot the ball well, so one point seemed like a mile of advantage over the opponent, as the Spurs did just enough to win this game. The quarters were split 26-22, SA; 10-13, LA; 28-23, SA & 28-29, LA. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the Lakers with 20 points on a night with both of LA's biggest weapons struggling to be effective: LeBron James shot 4-13, going 0-4 from long range with 4 turnovers, to score only 11 points (with 10 assists) & Anthony "A.D." Davis scoring 15 points & 10 rebounds (0-3 3PT).

For San Antonio, its strongest weapons proved to be the difference with Ingram scoring 27 points, 10 rebounds after two poor games with 2 steals & Dejounte Murray dropping 22 points and 7 assists. They got some help from Fred VanVleet's 11 points and PJ Tucker's, the two stalwart defenders hitting six threes between them. Andre Drummond had a quiet scoring night, but corralled 14 rebounds. The Spurs had their own problems, as Kent Bazemore shot just 1-6 & Joe Harris went 3-11, 2-9 from 3PT range.

Spurs pull away over Thunder, 97-116, beat Nuggets again 110-89, then down Warriors 108-96.

Brandon Ingram had a rough night shooting the ball (6 points, 3-13 FG) but Joe Harris scored 15 points & Andre Drummond (17 points, 12 rebounds) powered the Spurs to a home victory, the strong offense led by Dejounte Murray's 10 points, and 10 assists. Kent Bazemore scored 13 points, as did Trey Lyles & Iman Shumpert. San Antonio won the 4th Quarter 20-39, after going 21-25, 24-25 & 32-27 (OKC won the third). Allen Crabbe had a return to action with 12 points.

In the loss, Steven Adams secured his All*Star selection with 19 points, 18 rebounds, with Mike Muscala dropping 18 also. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points with 6 assists, whereas Chris Paul struggled for just 12 points & 7 assists.

In Denver, Bol Bol had 24 points, 10 rebounds in a stellar outing but Nikola Jokic (6-15 FG) was quiet with 15 points, 13 rebounds. Jerami Grant had a solid 14 points, 12 rebounds but Jamaal Murray shot 3-10, with Michael Porter, Jr & Monte Morris combining to shoot 5-18.

Meanwhile, the Spurs crushed the Nuggets in the 1st & 3rd Quarters, 29-22 and 33-19 to pull away. Fred VanVleet hit three long range bombs for 17 points with 3 steals, seconded by Brandon Ingram's 15 points. Thomas Bryant had a quick-and-easy 15 points, 11 rebounds. Dejounte Murray dished 7 assists with 13 points, with Joe Harris & P.J. Tucker combining for 24 points and going 4-4 from 3PT territory.

A rivalry now in the rear view, the Warriors made things fun as Andrew Wiggins eventually got to a good showing with 23 points (10-19 FG) & Steph Curry dropped 22 points with 11 assists (7-20 FG, 3-12 3PT) in what was far from the Curry of old. Klay Thompson continues to struggle against the Spurs, with just 13 points (6-12). The Spurs won all four quarters: 28-22, 25-24, 24-22 & 31-28.

In the win, Dejounte Murray got top marks with 28 points, 6 assists & 4 steals, shooting 13-16 overall. Brandon Ingram was not far behind him, notching 22 points. Down low, Andre Drummond dominated the basketball with 17 points, 24 rebounds. Luka Samanic had a nice 13 points.

Spurs avoid collapse at home on cold shooting night to improve winstreak to 15 in 103-112 victory over Denver.

Benefiting by a cold shooting stroke for San Antonio, the Nuggets went up by ten points, 101-91, after recently acquired-JJ Redick hit a would-be 3PT dagger. But the perseverant Spurs would not say die, with their 14-game win streak on the line, sending the home crowd into a bonafide frenzy by the buzzer. "It sounds like a rock concert in here!" Kevin Harlan remarked on the sidelines, having witnessed quite the comeback by the home team.

The recipe for the comeback? Constant defense and consistent scoring. First, an otherwise chilly B.I. (12 points, 11 rebounds, 5/13) hit a 3PTer, followed up by Fred VanVleet's masterful stroke (42% avg) & then Andre Drummond (8 rebounds, 8 points, 5 steals, 2 blocks) caught a misfire and slammed it home (101-99). Denver would finally respond, as Nikola Jokic (22 points, 12 rebounds) hit a baseline jumper with 1:08 to play, yet it would be their final basket in the contest. Dejounte Murray (in an effort just two points shy of his career-high) hit two clutch free throws, then hit a layup to tie the score at 103 with .45 left on the clock VanVleet (20 points, 3-10 3PT, 3 steals) would carry the Spurs over the hump, his layup giving San Antone the two-point advantage, and Murray would hit the crescendo with a 3PTer to make it 103-108.

Ending the game on a 21-2 blitz, the Spurs now look ahead to the visiting OKC Thunder as the last challenge before All*Star Weekend with a tremendous feel-good victory tonight to celebrate, towering above the league with now their 50th win on the season, as the Nuggets conversely struggle to overstep the post-season threshold. B.I. got a highlight rejection on rookie Bol Bol (6 points, 8 rebounds), as did Johnathan Williams (6 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks) on a dunk attempt by Jokic.

The Rest:

A brush of good luck came in the form of Thomas Bryant only suffering a minor injury scare once entering the game, as the Spurs smartly took him out for the rest of the night. Medical staff says he'll be ready to go for the game against OKC, but the Spurs surely missed his scoring contributions. Kent Bazemore had 13 points, sparking a third-quarter resurgence (31-28, after Denver narrowly won the first half 48-46). The Nuggets would regain momentum, trailing just by one after the third quarter which made the near-upset possible. JJ Redick had 13 points, hitting 3-4 from long distance. Will Barton scored 12, as did prospect Michael Porter, Jr. Jamaal Murray had another quiet showing with just 10 points & 8 assists. Anything more, and Denver likely would've hung on tonight for the upset.

Defensive prowess helps Spurs (49-4) overcome large deficit to overwhelm Bucks on road, 117-103.

Past NBA Finals rivals squared off in the Cream City tonight, as a huge ?-point lead grew for the Bucks in the 2nd Quarter from a display of dominance by Milwaukee. The dynastic Spurs surged back, sparked by stellar perimeter power (15/31 3PT), crushing the Bucks in the fourth quarter with furious defense that erased the deficit for the defending champions.

After a frustrating three quarters, Brandon Ingram (21 points, 3 steals, 1 block) finally figured it out and dunked it home for a 97-95 lead, the two of a one-two exchange by the Slender-Man burying a mid-range dagger that had tied the game. Ingram also swatted Middleton at the rim late. Kent Bazemore (19 points, 2 steals) nailed two 3PTers in the final minute to ice the game, with the scoreboard having gone topsy-turvy by the buzzer's call. Fred VanVleet was big, yet again, with 12 points and hitting four 3PT bombs with 5 assists & a key steal down the stretch.

The Bucks won the 2nd Quarter, 38-19, with San Antone dominating the 4th Quarter, 43-16, to finish the season sweep, highlighted by Ingram swiping the ball loose from Antetokounmpo (20 points, 17 rebounds, 9 assists, 7 turnovers). On another memorably wild exchange, Khris Middleton (6-14, 2-8 3PT) back-ironed a golden three-pointer off a double screen, with both teams' big men smacking the rebound backward into the hands of a hot Eric Bledsoe (24 points, 6 assists, 11-16 FG, 2-3 3PT), but Joe Harris (11 points, 3-3 3PT) pried the ball free yet again for the big slam by Murray (19 points, 8 assists) to give the Spurs a 99-95 lead.

Andre Drummond was a force on the glass, scoring 17 and yanking home 14 rebounds. Drummond even hit a corner 3PTer late in the first quarter, left alone by the Bucks defense. Thomas Bryant came through in the clutch after a cold second quarter, finishing with 8 points, 8 rebounds and burying a 3PTer during one of San Antonio's impressive runs, highlighted by P.J. Tucker burying a three.

Spurs roll past Bulls (98-108), then Cavaliers (116-105) with strong bench play.

The star trio rested two games, as the All*Star Break approaches, allowing prospects Luka Samanic & Thomas Bryant to shine against other youth-led squads in Chicago & Cleveland. The Cavaliers even came back after being down big and sneaked the lead away for a moment, but the Spurs were able to recover for the road victory despite a strong showing by Domatas Sabonis (18 points, 13 rebounds).

Luka Samanic had 7 points, hitting all three of his shots in Cleveland, but scored a career-high 20 points against Chicago with 7 rebounds, impressing Coach Pop with 2 blocks on a 9-14 shooting night. Thomas Bryant also continues to gel with San Antonio, dropping a big 23 points, 16 rebounds, 2 steals & 2 blocks against the Bulls. Bryant followed that showing up with 19 points, 10 rebounds in Cleveland. P.J. Tucker had a breakout night after going through a rough slump since shooting hot early this season, scoring 18 points. Joe Harris had 15.

10-Game Win Streak Recap: Spurs (45-4) stay atop league standings, Drummond makes All*Star Game; Ingram drops 41 and VanVleet has a perfect game.

Ingram is averaging 23ppg this season.

Sparked by Andre Drummond's career-high night, the Spurs followed it up with nine more victories, topping the Pelicans (97-112), Trail Blazers (93-125), Knicks (75-94), Pacers (106-101) & Rockets (97-125).

Brandon Ingram scored 24 points against Zion Williamson (18 points, 10 rebounds). Lonzo Ball dished 10 assists and new Pelican Nikolai Vucevic contributed 18 points & 14 rebounds, but it was enough due to 21 points by new Spur Thomas Bryant (3-4 3PT) and 17 points by VanVleet, 18 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists by Dejounte Murray & 16 rebounds, 14 points by Drummond.

The Big Penguin heated up again, flexing against Portland for 25 points, 21 rebounds with 4 steals & 2 blocks as the Spurs cruised to another home win. Ingram contributed 19 points and Johnathan Williams had a delightful 14 points. Damian Lillard scored just 18 points, with CJ McCollum going 4-11.

Up next, Fred VanVleet put on a virtuoso performance, scoring on all ten of his baskets (including a 3PTer) for 24 points. Trey Lyles had a resurgence of 16 points & 6 rebounds, hitting two threes. Allen Crabbe had a nice outing with 15 points, going 4-6 from deep territory. Bryant contributed 11 points, 9 rebounds, as the star trio sat this one out for the Spurs. LaMelo Ball had a rough night, shooting 2-11 with 5 turnovers. Blake Griffin had just 10 points, with Kevin Knox II going 0-4 from long range & RJ Barrett having a quiet night, as well.

The Pacers came closest to a win, but were seemingly always 5-6 points behind the curve as the Spurs surprised the home team 31-20 in the first quarter. Myles Turner did star with 24 points, 9 rebounds, but Victor Oladipo had a quiet night with just 9 points, 11 assists. Dennis Smith, Jr. went 3-9 & James Johnson got outpaced by Brandon Ingram (24 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks), despite 16 points. Malcolm Brogdon was the x-factor, sadly shooting 4-14 despite having a nice year shooting-wise thus far. Indiana still remains high in the eastern conference standings, though. Dejounte Murray had 18 points, 8 assists & Fred VanVleet dropped 16 points with 7 assists, going 4-5 from long range. Andre Drummond had 14 rebounds, 12 points with 5 blocks. Kent Bazemore droppd 13, as San Antonio shot 58% from 3PT territory (11/19).

Lastly, the struggling Houston Rockets were blown out again, courtesy of a master-class showing by Brandon Ingram, who was showered with "M-V-P" chants by the San Antone faithful, notching 41 points and going 3-3 from long range. The Slender-Man is now boasting 40% from 3PT this season, a high improvement over last season. Meanwhile, Fred VanVleet is making a lot of noise for Most Improved Player, now shooting 41% from deep. FVV continues to average higher assists and scoring numbers, as well as less turnovers and higher steals rate than last season with the Raptors. Fred hit all three of his perimeter daggers in this game, whose shot selection has been nothing short of spectacular.

Luka Samanic dropped 14 points, 7 rebounds, as the sophomore shooter continues to carve out a role in the rotation. Iman Shumpert scored 11 points, as Andre Drummond corralled 18 rebounds with 10 points. Dejounte Murray had 14 points. For Houston, they sneaked within 10 points in the third quarter, before going back down by 20 points again. Robert Covington had a nice game, 20 points, one less than an off night by James Harden (10 assists) and Russell Westbrook had 13 points (5-12). The Rockets only shot 31% from 3PT distance.

In other news around the league, the Lakers & Clippers are pulling away from the rest of the west in the standings. The Knicks have lost five straight, after a hot start to the year, and the Raptors season had a nice moment with Pascal Siakam dropping a career-high 46 points last night in a win over those same Knicks.

Spurs cruise to win over Rockets, as Drummond drops career-high 41 points, 127-105.

Andre Drummond was whistled for a controversial flagrant foul, which Coach Popovich unsuccessfully challenged. But rather than let it dictate the rest of the game, the Big Penguin got fired-up and scored countless second-chance baskets, en route to a career tally on the box score. Drummond finished with 41 points, 20 rebounds, 2 steals & 4 blocks. Dejounte Murray fed the big man, dishing 5 assists, scoring 19 points and blocking a corner 3PT attempt by Houston throughout the game. Brandon Ingram had a quiet 13 points, 6 rebounds, as did Joe Harris (after a cold spell of games) who hit 3 threes. Fred VanVleet scored 1

For Houston, James Harden had a down game, as Houston only made 4-21 long shots, finishing with 16 points, going 2-7 from long range with 2 turnovers. Russell Westbrook (28 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 13-28 FG, 0-4 3PT) made it a fun night for the Rockets crowd, but the Spurs controlled this game, winning 3 of 4 quarters (w/a second quarter stalemate). Nemanja Bjelica scored 17 points, 6 rebounds, but Houston did not get much more help from the supporting talent. Eric Gordon shot 2-7, as the Rockets continue to fall in the standings, trailing once by 22 points in this game.

Spurs pulverize Suns with 20-0 run, win 112-119.

The improved Phoenix Suns came in strong, and may have taken command of this game had Brandon Ingram not scored 22 points in the first half and contained Devin Booker (17 points, 7-17, 2 turnovers) on defense. The Suns, however, were blown out of the sky in the 3rd Quarter by a master-class showcase from San Antonio. The Spurs trailed by eight points, 65-73, forcing Coach Popovich to call timeout. Phoenix suddenly went cold as the Spurs defense heated up, and with three minutes left they now led by 10 points, courtesy of a 20-0 scoring blitz, 85-73. The Spurs won the third, 37-20.

Notably, the Suns did regain some momentum to win the 4th Quarter, 35-23 but the Spurs led for most of the quarter.

Ingram finished the game with 31 points, hitting three perimeter shots. Fred VanVleet scored 23 points, as Dejounte Murray dished 8 assists with 13 points. Andre Drummond had 13 points, 11 rebounds & 4 blocks. Trey Lyles had a bounce-back game with 13 points, going 3-3 from long range. For the Suns, DeAndre Ayton notched 26 points & 16 rebounds. Dario Saric scored 17 points with 7 rebounds, 5 assists. 

Spurs fend off Utah to best rival Jazz a third time, 98-105.

At least there's respect between coaches, Synder & Popovich.

The Jazz stayed close, as Rudy Gobert (26 points, 23 rebounds) terrorized a rusty Spurs team--whose stars came back to the hardwood, notably post-injury Andre Drummond--but fell short as the Spurs defense forced multiple shot-clock violations due to fierce blocks.

Fred VanVleet (10 points, 7 assists) delightfully poked the ball loose, Drummond (16 rebounds, 3 blocks) dished it back to him, and he splashed in the 3PTer. Brandon Ingram (27 points) had a cold first half, but powered the Spurs to a win hitting 3-of-5 from downtown, excelling on two-man play in the fast break with Dejounte Murray (19 points, 7 assists). Having led the Spurs past the Pistons last game with 23 points, Kent Bazemore had another solid outing of 19 points, hitting three long shots.

The Rest: P.J. Tucker scored six points, getting a clutch steal down the stretch as the Spurs led by as much as fourteen. Thomas Bryant made his Spurs debut, grabbing six boards and swishing a corner 3PT shot in the 4th Quarter. Johnathan Williams caught a slick pass from Rajon Rondo, burying the elbow jumper. For Utah, Donovan Mitchell got the Jazz within striking distance in the 4th Quarter, scoring 20 points. Mike Conley dished 11 assists and scored eleven. Joe Ingles, however, went 0-4 and 2-7 overall. Utah only hit on three tries from 3PT distance, compared to 13 by the Spurs.

Trades Recap: Lakers land Jrue Holiday, Charlotte deals Batum, Brooklyn ships Warren.

As the Lakers sat firmly in second place of the western conference (with the Clippers and the next three teams) only two-to-three games behind them, push came to shove and GM Rob Pelinka pulled off another stunning deal, trading for Jrue Holiday (and his expiring 26m contract) in a record-breaking eighteen-player blockbuster arrangement.

On a 10-game losing streak (even after acquiring Zach LaVine), the Orlando Magic parted ways with Nikola Vucevic and thereby committed to Mo Bamba's development as the new starting center. The Pelicans were happy to receive Vucevic's scoring ability to pair alongside Zion Williamson and help spread the floor better than with Derrick Favors, who slides back to a backup center/power forward role. The Pelicans supplemented Orlando's loss with prospect center Jaxson Hayes (#8 pick, 2019) and rookie point guard Killian Hayes (#13 overall, 2020) to make up for losing DJ Augustin to New Orleans.

The Lakers motivation was addition by subtraction, nabbing Jae Crowder's perimeter defense and Wilson Chandler, in exchange for Danny Green joining the Magic, choosing to hang onto Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (who's having a better year). They had to deal JaVale McGee to Orlando, also, but have subsequently signed free agent (and ex-Spur) Joakim Noah, rival of LeBron James for years in the eastern conference, now turned teammate to back up Marc Gasol.

The Rest: Quinn Cook joins Orlando, prospect point guards James Drew & Ayo Dosunmu, center rookie N'Faly Dante go to the South Bay Lakers, Jimma Gatwech heads to N'awlins, Patty Mills takes his mentorship role to Orlando where he can help Markelle Fultz (and Hayes) improve their game. Both Green and Mills also boost Orlando's scoring problem, despite having LaVine and DeRozan. Time will tell if the Magic can figure their way back up in the standings, despite a bevy of roster moves over the summer and this season. The Pelicans receive Talen Horton-Tucker, Matthew Dellavedova (a reunion with LeBron James that didn't quite pan out) & Tre Jones.

After dealing Terry Rozier away to Cleveland, the Hornets are nearly back to zero financially after finally finding a new home for Nicolas Batum to the Memphis Grizzlies with Miles Bridges in exchange for Kyle Anderson & Jonas Valanciunas. Memphis will now be able to play Paul Millsap alongside Jaren Jackson, Jr in the starting lineup. The Grizzlies also get a top 3 protected 2023 draft pick. John Wall joined the Pistons to help mentor Cole Anthony (leading ROY candidate), Blake Griffin joined the Knicks with Julius Randle joining the Wizards for Derrick Rose to Detroit.

In other news, the struggling Brooklyn Nets are now able to slot Kevin Durant into the PF spot as T.J. Warren (ex-Spur) was dealt to the improved Minnesota Timberwolves to pair with KAT in the frontcourt. Marco Belinelli joins the T'Wolves, as Josh Okogie joins Brooklyn. The Pelicans made more waves by dealing Josh Hart to the Nuggets for Gary Harris, losing out on JJ Redick, who'll improve Denver's playoff chances, gaining two more draft picks for the Duke sniper.