Spurs fall to Thunder, 90-87: Recap, highlights, and more

A short-handed San Antonio Spurs team fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 90-87.

The short-handed San Antonio Spurs fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night to bring their record to 15-8. The Spurs were without Rudy Gay, Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili. Without many veterans playing, this game offered an opportunity to see how the young guns would handle the extra minutes against one of the Spurs’ tougher opponents. Brandon Paul got his first start of the season.

Overall the first half of the game was fairly ugly on both sides. The Thunder aren’t really that exciting of a team to watch anymore. Thankfully Paul George (2-17 FG) didn’t really show up tonight. After a last-second buzzer beater by Jerami Grant, the Spurs went into the locker room down 54-43 at the half.

Things started to improve for the Spurs after the break. Joffrey Lauvergne showed some serious determination on the boards and was able to corral six rebounds and score twelve points.

JOFFREY ? https://t.co/mXZTYhv9Yz

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) December 4, 2017

After not seeing much playing time over the past four games, or really at all this season, Davis Bertans played twenty-nine minutes tonight and finished with sixteen points on 6-12 shooting, including 4-9 from downtown. When Davis gets into a rhythm he has so much confidence shooting the ball and can really stroke it. No hesitation, just pull up and let it fly.

DAVIS FROM LATVIA! pic.twitter.com/moQOec2Z5s

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) December 4, 2017

Kyle Anderson went down mid-way through the third quarter after coming down awkwardly on his left leg. You could hear him shout out as soon as he landed and he instantly grabbed his left knee. He left the game and would not return. Early speculation is a left-knee MCL strain but more will be known after Anderson undergoes an MRI on Monday. This injury really hurts the Spurs. Anderson had been playing the best basketball of his young career and really found his niche as a point-forward. Hopefully, this injury is not too serious and he can make a swift recovery. Joffery Lauvergene would also exit the game in the second half after suffering a dislocated finger.

Here's another look at Kyle Anderson's injury… he was helped off the court… pic.twitter.com/HMf7XFZ3CG

— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) December 4, 2017

The Spurs kept it close until the very end. Dejounte Murray played well in his eighth start of the season. The young guard would finish with seventeen points, eleven rebounds, and five assists while playing thirty-nine minutes. You could tell that Murray relished the opportunity to start opposite one of the very best guards in the NBA in Russell Westbrook. Murray was in attack mode all night, taking the ball into the heart of the defense and attacking the rim.

Unfortunately, the young Spurs ended up falling to the Thunder. Brandon Paul had a chance to tie the game with five seconds left but his three-point attempt fell short and the Thunder were able to secure a win, their tenth of the season.

The Spurs next play one of the Eastern conference’s hottest teams, the Detroit Pistons, in San Antonio on Monday night. The Thunder next face the Jazz on Tuesday night.

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