Entering a pivotal matchup against the Atlanta Hawks, the Spurs would be shorthanded without two of their most essential stars, but in the end, it didn't matter. The Silver and Black would take home the victory 135-126 and now head into a dangerous road trip feeling ecstatic.
Fueled by massive runs in the 2nd and 4th quarters, the Spurs took this game away from the Hawks with authority. Further, the Spurs' season-high 74 points in the first half propelled them to victory. Against all odds, the Spurs had one of their best offensive performances of the year with Wembanyama, Castle, and Harper sidelined, and you won't believe who stepped up.
David Jones Garcia played the best game of his NBA career
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The star of the night was none other than [Summer League standout David Jones Garcia](https://airalamo.com/spurs-just-struck-gold-after-unearthing-tantalizing-diamond-rough). Heading into the night, the G League alum had only accounted for less than 20 total minutes the entire season, but tonight he earned every second of playing time.
The hero of the night would post 12 points, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals. He was a jaw-dropping +25 while on the court. The rising playmaker was all over the place, creating havoc on offense and defense. He looked incredibly comfortable for someone with so little NBA playing time and worked exceptionally well with his new teammates.
It was clear that DJG wanted it more than anyone else. He took his opportunity and absolutely ran away with it. It remains to be seen what kind of role he will take on going forward, but he has most definitely captured the attention of head coach Mitch Johnson and the Spurs faithful.
The Spurs played extremely disciplined while remaining aggressive
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Outside of the Spurs' incredible shooting display led by Julian Champagnie, the team's most impressive stats of the night were their 10 turnovers and 15 personal fouls. Even as the team was all over the boards and attacking on all phases, they held their mistakes to a minimum.
The greatest example of this effort was Keldon Johnson. The hype man was soaring across the court and [picking up every inch of slack](https://airalamo.com/keldon-johnson-proving-his-doubters-wrong-with-spurs-hot-start). KJ got hot in this game, scoring 25 points on an efficient 9/12 from the field. His presence was felt for the entirety of his stay on the court, making it impossible to miss him.
The Spurs' ability to keep the momentum rolling and the buckets raining down without two of their best players is nothing short of amazing. This collective unit knows how to stay calm and is unafraid of the moment. When someone goes down or has an off night, there is always another player ready to step up.
Seeing these kinds of performances is incredibly encouraging for the Spurs as they look towards the rest of the season. They have proven to be one of the deepest teams in the NBA, full of essential playmakers and role players. Just wait until everybody is healthy; it is going to get dangerous.