Spurs cruise past Grizzlies in 123-98 rout
The night never really gave the Memphis Grizzlies a chance to breathe.
From the opening tip, the San Antonio Spurs played like a team with something to prove—sharp, connected, and relentless. The ball moved with purpose, the defense swarmed, and by the time the first quarter buzzer sounded, San Antonio had already built a cushion that felt heavier than the scoreboard suggested.
It started with rhythm. Possession after possession, the Spurs carved up Memphis’ defense, turning good looks into great ones. Devin Vassell found his stroke early, knocking down shots that kept the pressure mounting. Meanwhile, Stephon Castle quietly controlled the tempo, slipping passes through tight windows and keeping everyone involved.
And then there was Victor Wembanyama—everywhere at once.
He altered shots without always touching the ball, pulled down rebounds in traffic, and made his presence felt in ways that don’t always show up in the box score. When Memphis tried to attack the paint, Wembanyama was waiting. When they settled for jumpers, the Spurs were already pushing the other way.
By halftime, the game had shifted from a contest to a showcase.
San Antonio didn’t let up. Instead, they leaned further into their identity—unselfish offense, disciplined defense, and a pace that Memphis simply couldn’t match, especially shorthanded. Every run the Grizzlies attempted was met with a quick answer: a corner three, a fast-break finish, or a defensive stop that sucked the momentum right back out of the building.
The lead stretched. Then ballooned. Then settled into something inevitable.
Late in the fourth quarter, the urgency was gone. The Spurs bench rose with every play, the starters watched with quiet satisfaction, and the scoreboard told the full story: 123–98.
It wasn’t just a win—it was control from beginning to end.
For a young Spurs team on its way to the NBA Playoffs, this was a glimpse of what it can look like when everything clicks.
Game notes
- With the win, San Antonio moved within two games of Oklahoma City for the top seed in the Western Conference and the league’s best record.
- The Spurs have an easier end to the season than the Thunder, apart from two games against the Nuggets and possibly the Clippers. If the Spurs can win the games they need to, it will be a tight finish to the top.
- De’Aaron Fox missed the game with back soreness, and Luke Kornet was also out with injury management. Good for Mitch Johnson holding out two key players to work out the kinks in their bodies before a grueling playoff run.
