Rookie Keldon Johnson led Spurs with 24 points in a significant victory over the Rockets
San Antonio Spurs needed to win this game in order to survive in the fight that they give right now to clinch the last playoff spot and don’t break the tradition of them having made the playoffs for 22 seasons straight. With James Harden sitting out to rest, along with Eric Gordon (ankle) and Daniel House (toe) and the Rockets shooting just 29.2% from the perimeter, the Spurs prevailed 123–105 and now they have to keep an eye open on the three following games that will be conducted tonight and if the Phoenix Suns or the Portland Trail Blazers lose, their hopes should go up.
Rockets superstar Russell Westbrook was back in the starting lineup for the first time after missing two games (with Lakers and Kings) with a bruised right quadriceps. He played for 28 minutes and he was taken out at the end of the third quarter when the Spurs had a 22-point lead (71–93) and the game seemed to be lost.
Westbrook had 20 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished the ball six times. He was 8-of-17 from the field and shot 2-of-4 from the perimeter (50%) (averages 25% 3-PT this season).
“Get some of the rust off, build up his legs a little bit,” D’Antoni said regarding playing Westbrook and focusing on keeping him fresh for next week. “We’ll try to get through these two games and just try to get guys physically ready to go next week.”
Austin Rivers, coming from a 41-point performance against the Sacramento Kings, played for 29 minutes and notched up 13 points, six rebounds and shot 5 out of 12 from the field and 1 out of 4 from the perimeter.
Rockets struggled a lot from the perimeter going 14 out of 48 (29.2%) and that wasn’t their only problem. The Spurs imposed their pace and with great ball movement and effective plays that they run in the transition provoked an upheaval to Rockets’ defense. In the fourth quarter, Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni held Westbrook out to rest and put Jeff Green back in the game.
Spurs rookie small forward out of Kentucky, Keldon Johnson, who played his 15th game this season, played for 26 minutes and had 24 points, 11 rebounds (both career-best), along with three assists. He shot 8-of-12 from the field and 3-of-3 from the perimeter. Johnson, DeMar DeRozan (23 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) and Jakob Poeltl (14 points, 12 rebounds) were the leading scorers for San Antonio.
“Whether it’s hustling, running the floor — just doing whatever I need to do to help us win,” he said. “Help from my teammates has definitely helped the game slow down for me.”
“That’s what he does,” Popovich said of Johnson. “He’s a high-energy guy. He’s very physical. Very competitive. Very coachable. He’s just a winner.”
San Antonio has won three straight and five out of seven since arriving in the Florida bubble.
Gregg Popovich's team shot 49.5% from the field and 40.6% from the perimeter in a very critical game as they are vying for their 23rd consecutive participation in the playoffs.
Next scheduled game for the Spurs is on Thursday against Utah, while Rockets will take on Indiana Pacers tomorrow.
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