2023-12-09 13:06:09
16th defeat in a row for San Antonio, beaten on its floor by Chicago last night. And this while Victor Wembanyama had a game with 20 points and 20 rebounds.
Failed again. Despite a 13-point lead at the end of the first period and a good address from distance (40.5%), the Spurs fell to Chicago (112-121) last night at the Frost Bank Center. 16th defeat in a row for the Texan club, a record in the history of the franchise. “The guys fought but in the last quarter, the teams raised their voice defensively and we were unable to continue scoring, analyzes Gregg Popovich. We move on to the next one, we have to move forward. Their 24 offensive rebounds hurt us. The rebounds were the worst part of our game. But a lot of guys are progressing. However, we cannot forget the basics, rebound is one of them“. The Bulls have caught 12 more than the Spurs. However, it was not the fault of Victor Wembanyama, who finished with 21 points, 20 rebounds and 4 blocks. The Frenchman becomes the youngest player to compile at least 20 points/20 rebounds in the history of the NBA. strong, but not enough in the end…
«He continues to impress», Summarized his teammate Tre Jones (18 pts, 9 pds) to the press. “For me, it doesn’t really have value if it’s a defeat but it’s an accomplishment.said the Frenchman about his precocity record. I hope I can look back on it as a good performance one day.» In the meantime, it is disappointment that prevails… And to add: “We must expect a reaction when the opponents are behind, as was the case at half-time. Our first period was rather solid, especially defensively. In a match, there are ups and downs, but our downs must be less low.. That would be a good idea.
Five other players at 20 points or more in this game, including one on the Spurs side, Keldon Johnson (20 pts), and four for Chicago, Coby White (24 pts), Nikola Vucevic (21 pts, 16 rbs), DeMar DeRozan (20 pts, 10 pds) and Patrick Williams (20 pts). Too much for the Alamo City club, which has not experienced the joys of victory since November 2, in Phoenix. It’s been a very long time…
Wembanyama and pivot
The Bulls led 1-0 and 5-3. That’s all. They chased the score for the rest of the first half, taking a burst in the second quarter (62-49, then 63-52 MT). Almost perfect first period for the locals, with 50% at three points. Even if we ultimately didn’t see this five very often in action, “Pop” changed his first unit for the second time in a row, with Zack Collins and Cedi Osman on the bench, Jeremy Sochan back among the starters and the called Malaki Branham to accompany Johnson, Darius Vassell (11 pts, 4/15) and “Wemby”, the latter starting at the pivot position. Which allowed him to do a lot of work: already 10 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks at the break, in 13 minutes. A treat for the Frenchman with this spin-move to escape Andre Drummond’s marking and dunk on a lob from Jones. To the question of whether we will see Wembanyama again in 5 with four outsiders, “Pop” does not create any suspense: “Absolutely yes». «We test things, we’ll see if it works», Commented the international tricolor on the subject of these changes in the five.
Obviously, the Spurs would not be the Spurs without an air gap in the third quarter (68-58, then 68-69). Stupid fouls, mysterious ball losses… Classic. Wembanyama sounded the revolt and there was always a three-pointer that fell in to give some air, but Chicago was now in the lead (81-87, then 83-87 at the end of the 3rd QT).
The good one against Houston?
Everything to do again. Despite his clumsiness, from afar (0/4) but not only (8/20 at the end of the match), the number 1 of the Draft had not finished tormenting the Bulls in the paint. Which Bulls quickly lost Alex Caruso, hit in the right ankle by stepping on the foot of a teammate, (90-89), but not their address, notably White, then Torey Craig. “SA” back to the wall with 3’36 to play (106-114). But “SA” who was now attacking. A little hope with Johnson’s triples, but it didn’t last (109-119). The experience of DeRozan and company paid off (112-121 final score).
«Of course it does somethingsqueaks Victor Wembanyama about this record of 16 defeats in a row. Everything is going well in life but that’s the only downside, for now. It’s hard. I feel the difficulty but never the despondency. You have to be patient, no choice.” To follow for the Spurs, a duel against a team within their reach, Houston. A team which has, however, just achieved a feat on the Denver floor (106-114). It will be Monday at the Toyota Center.
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