If you glanced at the San Antonio Spurs bench on Tuesday night, the most imposing figure in the arena was sitting still, draped in a brown hoodie. Victor Wembanyama, nursing a strained left calf, was a spectator. In years past, seeing the franchise cornerstone in street clothes might have signaled a scheduled loss for San Antonio. But this iteration of the Spurs is built differently.
On a night defined by veteran resilience and fourth-quarter poise, San Antonio proved once again that they are more than just a one-man show. Behind a season-high 31 points from Harrison Barnes and a masterclass in closing from De’Aaron Fox, the Spurs held off a scrappy Memphis Grizzlies squad, 126-119, at the Frost Bank Center.
The win pushed San Antonio to a surprisingly robust 6-2 record since Wembanyama went down on November 15. What could have been a season-derailing stretch has instead transformed into a proof-of-concept for the supporting cast.
Harrison Barnes Sparks the Spurs Early
Coming into Tuesday, Harrison Barnes was looking for redemption. Just 48 hours prior, he had struggled mightily in a loss to Minnesota, shooting a dismal 1-for-4 from deep. The veteran forward didn’t waste time dwelling on the past. Barnes came out with intent, burying his first three attempts from beyond the arc to set the tone for the Spurs’ offense.
Barnes finished the night with an efficient 31 points on 10-of-20 shooting, including a blistering 7-of-12 from three-point range. It was the kind of stabilizing performance San Antonio envisioned when they brought him in—a calm, experienced hand to guide a young roster through the turbulence of an NBA season. When Memphis threatened to pull away in the first half, it was Barnes who provided the answer, keeping the floor spaced and the scoreboard ticking.
Fox Takes Command in Crunch Time
While Barnes provided the early spark, De’Aaron Fox provided the finishing blow. The dynamic point guard, who finished with 29 points, saved his best work for when the lights were brightest. Fox poured in 11 points in the fourth quarter alone, single-handedly dismantling the Grizzlies’ comeback hopes.
San Antonio had found themselves in a hole, facing a seven-point deficit as the game tightened up. That’s when Fox went to work. Operating with surgical precision in the pick-and-roll and attacking the rim with his signature speed. The Spurs are 9-2 at home this season largely because they now have a closer who can generate his own shot when the offense stagnates.