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| 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.
