Dylan Harper torched the Wizards (Photo via X)
The San Antonio Spurs took care of business against the Washington Wizards to improve to a record of 19-7 on the season. The Wizards kept things close for a while but the Spurs pulled away in the third quarter and cruised in the fourth. The loss dropped Washington to 4-21, the worst mark in the NBA.
Stats: Spurs vs. Wizards
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Spurs vs. Wizards – Final Grades
Victor Wembanyama
Due to his minutes restriction, Wembanyama didn’t step on the court for the first time until three minutes into the second quarter. In total, the tall Frenchman played only 17 minutes. Despite his limited playing time, he was still amazingly impactful. He finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four blocks. Defensively, he was all over the place and was fantastic at defending the rim. Offensively, Wembanyama’s energy was high and he was making smart decisions. He also authored a number of wow moments where he flashed his alien-like abilities. Even though Wembanyama isn’t playing much right now, he’s still impacting the proceedings at an insane level.
Grade: B+
De’Aaron Fox
To say this was a quiet game for Fox would be an understatement. In 25 minutes, he totaled only six points and three assists, while hitting 1-of-8 shots from the field. On this night, it’s fair to say Fox was too unselfish. He was getting rid of the ball early in possessions and then didn’t fight to stay involved. His playmaking was minimal and his overall energy level was lacking. Defensively, Fox had a few bright moments but there wasn’t much to write home about on either end.
Grade: D
Stephon Castle
There was a lot to like about Castle’s play against the Wizards. He came out of the gates playing like his hair was on fire — and that vivacity set the tone. While he was a bit loose with the ball at times, Castle did really well in all facets. His defense was intense. Offensively, he was 6-for-6 from two-point range by being ultra physical and picking his spots well. His passing was also a plus. Better three-point shooting (1-for-5) would have been nice but I didn’t have a problem with the attempts.
Grade: A-
Devin Vassell
This was a rock solid outing for Vassell. He hit 3-of-6 from deep, 4-of-6 from two-point territory and his shot-selection was better than usual. Vassell passed it reasonably well, kept his mistakes to a minimum and played hard on the defensive end. When he takes what the defense gives him and plays with effort on the other end, he’s a really valuable piece to this puzzle. Well done.
Grade: A-
Harrison Barnes
It’s clear as day that Barnes is in a funk. After going 0-for-12 from three-point land in Las Vegas, he was 0-for-4 on threes against the Wizards. Uncharacteristically, Barnes looks like he lost confidence on his shot. To make matters worse, he missed both of his two-point attempts and didn’t give much effort on the boards or on defense in general. As the Spurs get better, hopefully Barnes’ reputation of missing shots in high pressure situations doesn’t become a worrisome storyline.
Grade: D-
Luke Kornet
Starting again at center, Kornet did good work. He was a threat in pick-and-rolls, particularly via the lob. He set mean screens, boxed out well and protected the basket. Kornet was sometimes slow defensively in open space but otherwise he did his job on both ends of the court. He played for a bit next to Wembanyama and that alignment once again looked promising.
Grade: B+
Julian Champagnie
Going head-to-head against his twin brother, Julian got the better of Justin. San Antonio’s Champagnie was 4-for-9 from three-point range and let the longballs fly with confidence. He also added in seven rebounds, many of which were contested. Champagnie played with a mixture of smarts and self-assuredness on both sides of the court. The way he’s playing right now, he’s a very valuable bench piece.
Grade: A-
Dylan Harper
Holy crap, this kid is good. Over his last two games, he’s 8-for-12 on three-pointers. Considering he’s already an elite driver, if Harper adds a consistent three-point shot … watch out. I loved his decision-making versus Washington. His finishing was excellent, his shot prep on his threes was picture-perfect and he made a number of wise passes. Add in very good defense and Harper looks like an absolute stud right now.
Grade: A
Keldon Johnson
It was another efficient night at the office for Johnson. In 21 minutes, he hit half of his shots from the field on his way to nine points. He also pulled down eight loud rebounds, ran the court with purpose and added enthusiasm to the mixture. Johnson rarely made a mistake on either end and helped the Spurs keep things going during a few stretches of boredom.
Grade: B+
Jeremy Sochan
Back in the rotation, Sochan exhibited why he has been getting DNP-CD’s lately. He was scoreless in 16 minutes and rarely looked at the rim. He played without confidence and was getting in the way often. Sochan is understandably out of rhythm but he also is having trouble fitting in with this season’s version of the Spurs. Defensively, he didn’t rebound or do much of anything of note. Sochan needs to turn it around ASAP or he might be permanently glued to the bench soon.
Grade: D-
Carter Bryant
Bryant is looking more and more comfortable. His three-pointer looked smooth, he added a visually-pleasing midrange jumper and his athleticism on defense continues to pop. Bryant did have a few mistakes that illustrated his rookie mindset — but I like how he’s not scared to push the issue.
Grade: B+
Mitch Johnson
With a back-to-back on the docket, Johnson did a great job of limiting minutes while still getting the win. It takes guts to not play Wembanyama the first 15 minutes of the game. The Spurs could have suffered a hangover after their NBA Cup run but it didn’t happen.
Grade: B+