Moral victories are much better when an actual victory comes along with it. A day after blowing a 26-point lead to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday afternoon, it looked like the San Antonio Spurs may be heading for another blown 20+ point lead against the Toronto Raptors. The Silver and Black were able to pull it together thanks to some veteran shot-making in the fourth to extend their lead back up to 20 and come away with the team’s fourth-straight victory.
It’s not often you see a team correct its mistakes immediately after making them. Similar issues plagued the Spurs in their back-to-back contests. When both opponents ratcheted up the pressure, turnovers led to empty possessions and easy buckets for them on the other end. San Antonio was able to pull itself together, handle the pressure, and find the veteran wing Harrison Barnes for some clutch baskets down the stretch to win 121-103. The Spurs’ 4-0 start is their best since the 2017-2018 season.
It hasn’t been the prettiest four wins, but it’s hard to argue that the start of the season could go much better. The young team has faced adversity and stacked important wins in a loaded Western Conference. All of this has happened without their All-Star point guard, De’Aaron Fox, and a depleted bench. These are tough wins, but the real test is still to come. The Spurs have yet to square off against the league’s best. It’s nice that they can pull out wins against lesser NBA teams despite crucial mistakes late in games – the same couldn’t be said in the last two seasons.
Monday was a sign that the team is learning how to win, and actually winning. San Antonio needs most of their full roster back healthy. They desperately need a backup center like Luke Kornet or Kelly Olynyk to get back on the court, and Fox’s return should, in theory, sure up the late-game turnover issues. Those players should be back in the coming week or so. In the meantime, the Spurs will have to face another aggressive Eastern Conference foe in the Miami Heat on Thursday night.