Record de saison pour Kawhi Leonard et nouvelle victoire des Spurs face à une de leurs victimes favorites
24ème victoire de la saison en 35 sorties pour les Spurs, qui dominent logiquement les Brooklyn Nets à l’At&T Center, soit la 15ème de suite à domicile face aux New Yorkais. Ils s’imposent sur le score de 109-97, leur seconde victoire de rang et la 6ème en 7 matchs. Le bilan de Brooklyn passe lui à 12/21.
Au complet, les Spurs ont été menés par un excellent duo Kawhi Leonard – LaMarcus Aldridge. L’ailier bat son record de saison avec 21 points à 8/17 en 26 minutes alors que LMA compile 20 points à 7/15, 9 rebonds et 2 passes. Tony Parker est encore efficace avec 14 points à 6/10 tandis que Paul Gasol noircit encore la feuille de match avec 15 points à 6/10, 12 rebonds et 5 passes. Manu Ginobili sort du banc pour inscrire 11 points à 4/7 pour des Spurs qui shootent à 51.3% tout en ne perdant que 12 ballons (9 en première mi-temps). En face les Nets sont limités à 41.9% et personne ne marque plus de 18 points. Caris LeVert signe 18 points à 8/11 et 5 passes alors qu’Allen Crabbe marque 15 points et Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 13.
Au complet, les Spurs ont mis une mi-temps avant de prendre la mesure des Nets après une entame de match difficile puisqu’ils n’ont marqué que 19 points dans le premier quart avant de trouver le rythme dans le second avec 31 points pour mener 50-44 après 24 minutes. Brooklyn s’est accroché dans les premières minutes au retour des vestiaires, en revenant même à hauteur mais sous l’impulsion de Parker, Gasol et Aldridge, les Texans ont passé un 11-0 fatal à leur adversaire. Plus jamais Brooklyn n’a revu les Spurs même si l’écart n’est jamais monté au-delà des 16 points. Les hommes de Gregg Popovich ont tranquillement géré avec un Kawhi Leonard qui a joué pour la première fois de la saison en dernier quart (4 points en 3 minutes).
N ANTONIO — The Spurs’ first game with every player healthy and available went as the team expected.
There was some hesitation and a rash of early turnovers, but they grew comfortable as the game progressed.
Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points, LaMarcus Aldridge added 20 and San Antonio beat Brooklyn 109-97 on Tuesday night, its 15th straight win at home over the Nets.
« (The rash of injuries is) very unusual for us, but we still have a month and a half until the rodeo (road trip) starts, » Spurs veteran Manu Ginobili said. « This is a good time to get everybody playing, everybody feeling good. Get Kawhi and Tony (Parker) back to their usual selves, back to their rhythm, feeling good and I think we are accomplishing that. Slowly, because they haven’t been back for so long, but they are really showing progress. »
San Antonio is third in the Western Conference at 24-11 despite being without Leonard and/or Parker for 30 games this season.
Aldridge has led the team during the duo’s absence and his resurgent season has not slowed with their return. The 6-foot-11 forward was 7 for 15 from the field and had nine rebounds against Brooklyn.
« You know, obviously, watching (Aldridge and Pau Gasol) play and see them do the things they do for our team is great, and it inspires everyone on the bench, me, even guys playing, » Leonard said. « But just with me, just taking it slow and trying not to skip any steps, like I said before, so I can be healthy down the road. »
Playing in just his fifth game, Leonard was 8 for 17 from the field in scoring a season high. He made his first appearance in the fourth quarter, scoring four points in three minutes.
« When Kawhi checked into the game in the fourth quarter, that wasn’t a welcome sign, » Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. « It just changes the game. He makes such a difference. Defensively, it’s just unbelievable. I felt like he was guarding our whole team at times. »
Playing with a full roster for the first time led to some indecision, as the Spurs scored just 19 points in the opening quarter while trying to involve all their scoring options.
« We went to being too careful, » said reserve guard Patty Mills, who scored 11 points. « That caused us to turn the ball over. »
San Antonio had nine of their 12 turnovers in the first half, but offset that by holding Brooklyn to 36 percent shooting.
Gasol added 15 points, Parker had 14 and Ginobili had 11.
The Nets kept pace early despite injuries to their top two point guards, D’Angelo Russell and Jeremy Lin.
Caris LeVert led Brooklyn with 18 points and Allen Crabbe added 15.
« I like the process. The results weren’t great offensively but we did some good things, » Atkinson said.