In the fierce competition of the NBA regular season, the Spurs faced off against the Nuggets on January 5th in another thrilling matchup. This back-to-back game was filled with drama, and although the Spurs ultimately failed to hold onto victory, their fighting spirit and strength displayed during the match are still worth our attention.
I. Game Review
(a) First Quarter: Intense Attack and Defense, Both Sides Locked in a Close Battle
From the start of the game, both teams quickly entered the state and engaged in an intense battle. Murray led with a layup to score first for the Nuggets, but Barnes responded immediately with a three-pointer. Subsequently, Wenban Yama showed his dominance in the paint, successfully completing a 2+1 play, followed by Barnes completing an impressive dunk, leading the Spurs to an 8-0 run that ignited the enthusiasm of the home fans. However, the Nuggets did not panic, as Jokic and Braun continuously attacked the paint, quickly responding with an 8-0 run to level the score. Afterwards, both sides exchanged blows, with Vassell scoring a layup, Jokic grabbing 5 points, and Westbrook also successfully scoring a layup. At a critical moment, Shangpani stepped up, hitting two consecutive three-pointers to showcase his excellent shooting. But Westbrook and Collins got into a verbal altercation on the court and were both called for technical fouls by the referee. At the end of the first quarter, the Nuggets led the Spurs 30-27 temporarily, with Jokic scoring 14 points in the quarter, an outstanding performance.
(b) Second Quarter: Score Remains Close, Wenban Yama Continues to Shine
In the second quarter, the competition between the two sides intensified even more, with the score remaining close throughout. Murray started with a jump shot to score, while Jones responded with a three-pointer. Wenban Yama maintained his efficiency on the offensive end, steadily making mid-range shots, followed by Xiao Jordan completing an impressive putback dunk. Then, Wenban Yama staged another spectacular alley-oop dunk, igniting the atmosphere of the entire arena. Murray was not to be outdone, immediately hitting a three-pointer, but Wenban Yama once again demonstrated his prowess with another dunk. Braun and Jokic also scored subsequently, while Wenban Yama hit a key three-pointer to help the team stay close in the score. Vassell also performed well in this quarter, delivering two consecutive dunks, while Westbrook scored for the Nuggets through mid-range shots. At halftime, the Spurs led the Nuggets 55-54 by 1 point. In this game, Jokic had already scored 18 points, 6 assists, and 2 blocks in the first half, while Wenban Yama also had an impressive tally of 14 points and 12 rebounds, with both core players delivering remarkable performances.
(c) Third Quarter: Spurs Extend Lead, Barnes Explodes
In the second half, Barnes became the key player for the Spurs in this quarter. He was hot-handed, hitting 3 consecutive three-pointers to score 11 points on his own, leading the Spurs to a 14-3 run that successfully extended the lead to 12 points. Although Jokic also scored, Barnes' outstanding performance kept the Spurs in the lead. Afterwards, Porter scored 5 points in an attempt to help the Nuggets narrow the gap, but Barnes hit another mid-range shot to stabilize the situation. Jokic continued to exert himself, scoring 5 points, but Johnson immediately hit a three-pointer, Castle broke through to score, and Jones made a layup, allowing the Spurs to extend the lead to double digits again. At the end of the third quarter, the Spurs led the Nuggets 92-81 by 11 points. In this quarter, the Spurs took the initiative on the court with their excellent teamwork and Barnes' explosion.
(d) Fourth Quarter: Sudden Change in Fortunes, Game Enters Overtime
In the final quarter, there was a sudden change in fortunes as the Nuggets launched a furious counterattack. Porter started by hitting a three-pointer, Murray scored a mid-range shot, Xiao Jordan made one of two free throws, and Westbrook made a layup, quickly reducing the gap to 1 point. Sohan and Jokic successively hit three-pointers, while Wenban Yama completed a 2+1 play after an alley-oop dunk, once again stabilizing the situation for the Spurs. However, Porter hit another key three-pointer to take the lead. Vassell scored a layup, and Jokic also made a bank shot, with the scores alternating. Sohan made a putback dunk, Westbrook hit a three-pointer, and Jokic made one of two free throws, giving the Nuggets a 2-point lead. At a critical moment, Vassell grabbed his own miss and scored a putback to level the score, leaving the Nuggets with only 14 seconds. Jokic's last-second mid-range shot to win the game missed, and the game went into overtime.
(e) Overtime: Jokic Dominates, Nuggets Secure Victory
In overtime, Jokic showcased his superhuman individual ability, completing a 2+1 play to take the lead for the Nuggets. Afterwards, the Spurs missed multiple three-point attempts and fell into a scoring drought, while Jokic seized the opportunity, hitting another mid-range shot and scoring a putback to extend the lead to 7 points. Johnson made one of two free throws, and Vassell scored a dunk, but Murray and Jokic followed with layups, and Porter hit a key three-pointer. Ultimately, the Nuggets defeated the Spurs 122-111, successfully avenging their earlier loss.
II. Player Performances
(a) Wenban Yama: Double-Double on His Birthday Night, Pillar of the Paint
On his 21st birthday, Wenban Yama once again became the focus of the Spurs. Despite the team's eventual loss, his performance was commendable. Throughout the game, Wenban Yama scored 20 points, 23 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 blocks, with his 23 rebounds setting a new career high. This was also the third time in his career that he recorded at least 20+20 data. On the offensive end, he displayed a variety of scoring methods in the paint, frequently drawing fouls from opponents and stepping up to the free-throw line, while also being able to hit key shots from beyond the arc. Defensively, his blocks posed a significant threat to the Nuggets' offense, successfully disrupting many of their shots. However, he also made some mistakes in the game, such as being successfully stolen by Westbrook, which to some extent affected the team's offensive rhythm.
(b) Barnes: Third Quarter Explosion, Regrettable Overtime Loss
Barnes delivered an excellent performance in this game, especially in the third quarter when his consecutive three-pointers became the key for the Spurs to extend their lead. Throughout the game, Barnes scored 22 points, providing crucial support for the team with his scoring and penetration on the offensive end. Defensively, he also actively fought for rebounds, putting pressure on the opponents. However, due to physical fatigue and other reasons, he was unable to play a decisive role again in overtime, and the team ultimately lost the game, which was undoubtedly a regret for Barnes.
(c) Other Players: Teamwork and Full Effort
Apart from Wenban Yama and Barnes, the other players of the Spurs also gave their all, contributing their strength to the team. Vassell scored 19 points and 8 rebounds, helping the team with his scoring and rebounding abilities on the offensive end. Shangpani scored 10 points, with his three-pointers from beyond the arc somewhat alleviating the team's offensive pressure. Castle, Johnson, and Jones also played their roles in the game, demonstrating the team's cohesion with their scoring and organization on the offensive end, as well as their active fighting on the defensive end. Although Paul did not score much, he also did his best in organizing the offense, delivering 8 assists throughout the game.
III. Game Analysis
(a) Offense: Multiple Scoring Points, Need to Improve Outside Shooting
Offensively, the Spurs displayed a characteristic of multiple scoring points in this game, with a total of 6 players scoring in double figures. Their inside offense mainly relied on Wenban Yama's strong attacks and second-chance opportunities, as well as breakthroughs and scoring by Barnes and others. On the outside, although there were three-pointers made by Shangpani, Jones, and others, the overall outside shooting percentage was not ideal. At critical moments in the game, the team missed multiple three-point attempts, resulting in a passive position in the score. Additionally, the team made many turnovers on the offensive end, giving the Nuggets numerous counterattack opportunities.
(b) Defense: Excellent Interior Defense, Insufficient Restriction on Core Players
Defensively, the Spurs tried their best to defend Jokic in the paint, with Wenban Yama's multiple blocks and interferences playing a certain role. However, Jokic still managed to score 46 points with his outstanding individual ability. The team's defense against other Nuggets players was generally good, but in the final quarter and overtime, they had lapses in defending against Porter, Murray, and others on the outside, allowing them to hit key shots repeatedly and ultimately lose the game.
(c) Teamwork: Admirable Fighting Spirit, Lacking in Detail Handling
In the game, the Spurs demonstrated their tenacious fighting spirit and teamwork ability, with players trusting and supporting each other on the court, maintaining a