Gregg Popovich 'Really Proud' of San Antonio Spurs After Comeback Win

After the San Antonio Spurs rallied late to steal a game from the Suns, Gregg Popovich was more upbeat than usual.

The San Antonio Spurs found themselves down 20 points twice in the third quarter during Tuesday’s game against Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns. After losing by 40 to the Clippers the game prior, they had pretty much written themselves out of the game.

Except, thanks to Keldon Johnson and some late-game heroics, they managed to win by a point.

In what can only be described as the win of the season thus far, the Spurs strutted into the Footprint Center and beat the Suns, sending both teams to a 2-2 record.

Sitting at .500 is a pleasant surprise for the growing Spurs and the opposite for the star-studded Suns. After the game, Gregg Popovich showered the team with praise.

“They responded great after a 30-point loss. I couldn't be prouder of them,” said Popovich. “As we all talk about pounding the rock. They just kept playing through it no matter what. We made a gazillion mistakes. We just kept playing. That's the best thing about the group. I was really proud of them."

Keldon Johnson led the way for the Spurs with 27 points / © Zachary BonDurant, USA TODAY

It wasn’t a flawless win. The Spurs shot well from deep, but not well overall. They had some costly turnovers early, and Jeremy Sochan found himself in foul trouble. But they kept pounding the rock, staying vigilant enough to secure a win.

After the loss to the Clippers, Victor Wembanyama suggested that the Spurs wouldn’t let it get them down. 

"We got a famous saying in San Antonio, it's pound the rock and it has a deep meaning. It's not about how bad the struggles are going to be, but how persistent we're going to be," he said on Sunday.

Considering just how young the Spurs are, losses like the one to Los Angeles can be expected. It’s about how they bounce back in the coming days that matters and the Spurs are showing that they can take it one game at a time.