An lack of ability to seize some rebounds within the ultimate moments of the San Antonio Christmas recreation led the Spurs to lose by three factors to the New York Knicks.
This similar lack of ability performed an essential function in Spurs 112-110 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night time in Minneapolis.
The Timberwolves outscored San Antonio 56-41 and grabbed 18 offensive rebounds (San Antonio had solely eight). Rudy Gobert pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds for Minnesota and teammate Jaden McDaniels had 10. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with eight rebounds.
PUT IT BACK, SLIM!!! pic.twitter.com/tgtLnS3XZX
– Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 30, 2024
Nonetheless, it isn’t simply that Minnesota had extra rebounds within the recreation. That’s additionally when these bounces occurred. Probably the most essential rebounds for the Timberwolves got here with 15 seconds remaining.
With the Spurs trailing 111-109, Wembanyama fouled out and made the primary of his two free throws. However he missed the second and the rebound was recovered by Minnesota’s Donte DiVincenzo (who was later fouled and made considered one of his two free throws to account for the ultimate rating).
The same ending occurred in opposition to the Knicks on Christmas when New York’s Josh Hart grabbed two offensive rebounds within the ultimate 17 seconds of that 117-114 recreation.
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Two video games ending the identical method is not rather a lot, but it surely’s fascinating that it occurred twice. San Antonio ranks eleventh within the league in rebounds per recreation (44.7 per recreation), far forward of the Timberwolves (42.7, sixth-worst within the NBA).
The Spurs even have a middle who can block photographs with out leaping. Wembanyama will not be disregarded in recovering rebounds. He is averaging 10.3 per recreation in December and had 18 in opposition to the Knicks, however Sunday night time’s efficiency was fairly good.
LET’S GOOOOOOOOO! pic.twitter.com/IQmFBErnUl
– San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) December 30, 2024
Jeremy Sochan is second on the Spurs with 8.7 rebounds per recreation, however had simply 4 on Sunday night time (in addition to simply 5 factors). Devin Vassell had seven rebounds and Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul had 5.
The Spurs (16-16) may have just a few days to determine what went unsuitable Sunday. San Antonio will not be again in motion till Tuesday when the Los Angels Clippers (18-13) come to city.
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