After strong start to Game 3, San Antonio Spurs see their 15-0 lead evaporate against Oklahoma City Thunder. With injuries to both teams, e become question of who get enough to pull out Game 3. In the end, Thunder prove to be the deeper team.
All season, San Antonio rely heavily on their bench. Unfortunately, when e matter most, e fail them. Thunder outmatch Spurs, with them able to go 12 deep easily.
Some of Spurs’ struggles with their second unit fit be attributed to Dylan Harper starting. E start both Game 1 and Game 2, leaving their bench without one of their leading scorers. Even so, Keldon Johnson and Luke Kornet fail to pick up the slack. To Johnson’s credit, e don dey knock down threes, but im ability to attack basket don all but evaporate for playoffs. Im defense also dey questionable at best, with im physicality often resulting for fouls rather than stops. Then there be Kornet. Im play for Game 3 na pretty awful.
Thunder simply deeper than Spurs, and injuries no dey help San Antonio. Harper now back coming off the bench, but damage may already done. Harper hobbled, Johnson don be tire fire all playoffs long, and Kornet no dey much better.
While Thunder outscoring Spurs 183-64 through first three games still be bit of outlier, result na the same. OKC deeper, even with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell both possibly missing Game 4.
The best San Antonio fit do na to double down on wetin dey work. More minutes for Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie, all the minutes Fox and Harper fit physically handle, and play Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama until dem drop. San Antonio should also give Carter Bryant more burn, possibly even replacing Kornet at backup center as well as spending time at the four.
E fit not be enough to close gap between Spurs’ and Thunder’s benches. Instead, Spurs should play nine and trust seven for hopes of evening series.
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