Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell lead the Spurs in loss to the Timberwolves

The road to success is always under construction (like I-35!).

The Spurs endured a defensive and low offensive output matchup with the Timberwolves that saw their not-winning streak extend to 15. Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell led all players with 21 and 22 points, respectively. Johnson and Victor Wembanyama notched double-doubles with both players pulling down 10 rebounds each. Despite the grind of the loss, the Spurs had a few notable highlights in this game.

Keldon Johnson continues to be a source of buckets for the Spurs. Although he has not been quite as consistent compared to last season, the team will lean on him to provide scoring and energy on both ends of the floor.

Devin Vassell returned to the starting lineup and did not waste time making his presence felt, like this fast break dunk to start out the game. Understandably, the Spurs have been bringing him along slowly to avoid any injury setbacks. Coaches and fans alike had been waiting for Vassell to make the leap this season, so maybe the reinsertion into the starting lineup is the small boost they need as he continues to grow.

This play would be 100% funnier if after Johnson scored at the buzzer and ran off towards the wrong locker room. But that’s why they’re professional ball players, and why I am professional-ish basketball game watcher.

The Vassell/Wembanyama connection continues to grow. Also another one of those plays you feel like could be dialed up every time down the floor due to Wembanyama’s skill and height advantage. Of course, plays like this definitely require quick decisions and depends on the spacing of the defense. I can still wish cast for more cheat code easy buckets every time the Spurs are on offense though. Dreams can come true!

In this sequence, the young Spurs showed off some pesky defense and got out in transition for a Johnson bucket. The team certainly pushes the pace so more plays and sequences like this are definitely good for the soul (and would go a long ways toward more wins).

For anyone other than Wembanyama, this Zach Collins lob might have been a bit too high. But the rookie managed to flush the easy look from Collins with relative aplomb. I just wanted a reason to use the word “aplomb.” Words are fun.

Collins, for his part, continues to provide some tertiary stats in the assists column, handing out dimes to the tune of at least 3 per game in 9 of his last 10 games.

I’m going deep into the bag for this one, but I remember this one quote from the first (maybe second season) season of Grey’s Anatomy. Save your judgement for another day. It was the early ‘00s, I just moved back into my parents’ house after college, they didn’t have cable, Hulu didn’t exist yet, so I couldn’t refine my television palate with high tea shows like The Bear or Atlanta.

Anyways! On the first season (maybe the second season, I stopped watching after one of the doctors pulled a bomb out of another human and saved the titular character, but the dude from Friday Night Lights died from said bomb in the hallway when he ran out of the operation room with it—and I stopped watching when my parents finally got cable) of Grey’s Anatomy, Meredith said something like “Why do we keep hitting our head with a hammer? Because it’s going to feel so good when we finally stop.”

It’s not quite the same inspirational credo as this site’s namesake, but I think it’s appropriate to describe Spurs fans feeling a bit of masochism watching this long losing drought. Victor Wembanyama’s angry swat serves as a small, sweet symbolic reminder of the players’ desire to win and ultimately build something great. Once it all clicks, and we proverbially stop hitting ourselves in the head with a hammer, it’s going to feel so good.

Maybe not-so-fun fact: The Spurs still have more consecutive seasons of making the playoffs than there are seasons of Grey’s Anatomy. I think I speak for all Spurs fans when I say, “Pleeease guys, let’s start a new playoff streak that lasts 30+ years.”

If you were too busy googling why or how Grey’s Anatomy is still running and missed Wednesday’s game, here are the full-game highlights:

Next up, the Spurs will head home to play the Chicago Bulls on Friday, December 8, 2023.