While all eyes are on college basketball during March, it's the dog days of the NBA season. Games are being played day in and day out, some with playoff implications, while others have lottery implications. The San Antonio Spurs were able to take advantage of a depleted Philadelphia 76ers squad on Friday night, 128-120.
The Spurs went on an 11-3 run to close out the ballgame after trailing by four entering the fourth quarter. The 76ers led with under four minutes left to go, but a Harrison Barnes jumper tired things up at 117, and the Spurs took over from there.
After seeing his alma mater, Baylor, take down the Mississippi State Bulldogs in an 8-9 upset, Jeremy Sochan played 35 minutes, leading all Spurs scorers with 23 points, while also hauling in a team-leading nine rebounds.
While his alma mater, the UCONN Huskies took on the Oklahoma Sooners, Stephon Castle stepped up big time as he did for the Huskies last March, masterfully running the Spurs offense with a 17-point, 14-assist double-double. Castle also had five rebounds, three steals and a block in a +20 effort.
Barnes, Chris Paul, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and Blake Wesley all finished in double digits for the Spurs.
For the 76ers, trade deadline acquisition Quentin Grimes continued his superstar-level streak, with a 25 point, 10 assist double-double, shooting 50 percent from the field. Grimes was one of four 76ers to score 20 points or more, joining Guerschon Yabusele (23 points), Justin Edwards (25), and Ricky Council IV (20).
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The Spurs shot an electrifying 48.7 percent from three-point range, finishing with 19 makes from beyond the arc. The Spurs led by as many as 16 points, but the 76ers outscored the Spurs 43-27 to reclaim the lead.
The Spurs won the turnover battle, surrendering the ball 15 times while forcing 20 the other way. The rebound and points in the paint battles were close, the Spurs out rebounded the 76ers by two, but surrendered two more points in the paint.
The Spurs move to 30-39 with the win, their second straight. They play next on Sunday in Toronto against the Raptors.
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This story was originally published March 22, 2025 at 8:58 AM.