The San Antonio Spurs really showed up for the soldiers at Military Appreciation Night at the AT&T Center. San Antonio is tasked with facing the Denver Nuggets which currently holds the number one ranking in the Western Conference.
Their status has not daunted this Spurs squad. Then falling twice to the Houston Rockets they made a complete turnaround and beat the Denver Nuggets 120-128. This was the first game the Spurs managed to win after trailing by 15 points at some point in the match.
The Night of Return
San Antonio lacked in the first quarter when Denver was outscored by 12 points. They didn’t let the start get them out of the game. They began chasing a 15-point lead in the second quarter to put themselves in a contending position for the win.
Coach Popovich was like a proud father after the game and had this to say about the exciting win they got. “It feels good. The fans are really into it. We put them to sleep, then we woke them up a little. So, it was great to have all the people there shouting and screaming. They deserve to have a good night.”
The leading scorer of the night was Keldon Johnson with 23 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Doug McDermott was not far behind him with 20 points and five rebounds. Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic had a triple-double at the end of the game. Even his 37 points, 11 rebounds and assists could not reel in the Spurs.
No Collins, No Problem, Mamus Got Them
Zach Collins was ejected from the game after getting into a minor scuffle with Nuggets small forward Michael Porter Jr. Collins was assessed two technical fouls that left the newcomer. Sandro Mamukelashvili to tie up the loose ends with Jokic.
In his fourth game with the organization, Mamu managed to make his mark on the team. He finished with 11 points, four rebounds, two assists, and thousands of new fans. Sandro expressed his gratitude for the Spurs nation and how their interaction has motivated the game.
How do you feel about Mamu as the new addition to the Spurs squad? Perfect match or temporary puzzle piece.