David Jones Garcia led the Spurs to a big win (Photo via X)
The San Antonio Spurs notched another short-handed win against the Atlanta Hawks. The 135-126 victory was made possible by another excellent fourth quarter by the good guys. With David Jones Garcia providing a palpable spark in the absence of Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, the Spurs scored 40 points in the fourth period to win their third straight game and cap their five-game homestand in style.
Stats: Spurs vs. Hawks
spurs hawks grades
Spurs vs. Hawks – Final Grades
De’Aaron Fox
Even though the Spurs have oodles of talent on the sideline, San Antonio does have De’Aaron Fox — and that’s proving to be enough. Fox isn’t doing all the heavy lifting, mind you, but he’s definitely the head of the snake. On offense, his quickness is almost as impressive as his ability to stop on a dime. Fox’s passing was really good against the Hawks and it was difficult to find fault in any of his decisions. Defensively, he got better as the game progressed and swiped three steals. There may have been some external rumblings regarding Fox’s fit on this team but the franchise is undoubtedly happy to have him on the roster right now.
Grade: A-
Devin Vassell
Good stuff from Vassell. He was efficient from the field, picked his spots well and his improved passing continues to be on full display. Getting to the line could have made him even more efficient but he deserves credit for playing an uncharacteristically clean game on the offensive end. Defensively, Vassell was also really good. He’s staying engaged and he’s a lot more aggressive on the perimeter than he had been in recent campaigns.
Grade: B+
Harrison Barnes
It can be easy to forget that Barnes is capable of having off nights at the office when it comes to shooting the ball. He’s been automatic lately but his accuracy wasn’t as impressive against the Hawks. He hit only 2-of-8 three-pointers but he did make up for that a bit by going 3-for-5 from two-point range and 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Barnes’ defense wasn’t special but he did well moving his feet against a quick Hawks squad.
Grade: C+
Julian Champagnie
This was one of Champagnie’s best outings of the season. He was letting it fly and the results were extremely helpful to the cause. He ended up pouring in 20 points in 31 minutes while hitting half of his ten three-point attempts. Champagnie is shooting more often lately and it’s making him a more valuable basketball player. Against the Hawks, his passing was much better than normal and his defense was legitimately impressive. Oh, and he had a thunderous dunk that shocked onlookers.
Grade: A-
Luke Kornet
Kornet didn’t move the needle a notable amount but he also didn’t hurt the team during his time on the hardwood. On offense, he passed it well and his positioning was advantageous. Defensively, he was sturdy in the post and mobile enough out on the perimeter. We’ve seen Kornet play a lot better but he did adequate work filling in for Wembanyama.
Grade: C+
Keldon Johnson
Johnson has been really good coming off the bench this season. Recently, he has struggled with his three-point shooting — but he fixed that flaw versus Atlanta. In addition to his 3-for-5 shooting from deep, he was a monster attacking the paint and his ferocity led directly to his 25 points in 32 minutes. The coaching staff got Johnson the ball going downhill a lot and the forward produced. Add in rugged rebounding, assertive defense and endless hustle … and the Spurs have to love how Johnson is playing these days.
Grade: A
Jeremy Sochan
The good: Sochan is becoming a very good passer for a forward. That point guard stint earlier in his career is starting to pay off. He’s rebounding better lately and did good work in that category against the Hawks. He also limited his mistakes and finished well by making 3-of-5 two-pointers. The bad: Sochan was 0-for-5 from three-point range, which is disappointing because he had been red hot from deep coming into this game. Uncharacteristically, you can see a lack of confidence in his game on both ends of the court. Hopefully he can get back to being the version of Sochan that is brimming with self-assuredness.
Grade: B
David Jones Garcia
Jones Garcia had his breakout NBA performance versus Atlanta. He made a loud statement that he belongs in this league. Let’s start with his defense. Jones Garcia was a killer on the ball and made dribbling difficult for his counterparts. He also did great work rebounding-wise. Offensively, Jones Garcia was under control. His passing and playmaking were at a high level even though he stuck to the basics. Scoring has always been Jones Garcia’s strength and he didn’t forget about that even though he was playing a very well-rounded affair. The 23-year-old is a natural born scorer but if he can contribute in the areas he contributed in this game, he’s going to have a long and successful career.
Grade: A+
Kelly Olynyk
Olynyk hit a three-pointer, got to the line and his passing ability kept the offense humming. Unfortunately, his defense was poor — both on the ball and when offering help. Olynyk is a smart player who can really help this team’s offense but he’s going to have to find a way to survive on the other end.
Grade: C-
Mitch Johnson
Johnson being able to get wins while short-handed has been impressive. I loved how much confidence he exhibited in Jones Garcia; that was arguably a game-winning coaching decision. Johnson has the offense humming even though the Spurs are lacking talent. Defensively, the gameplan was sound.
Grade: C