'Everybody's Done Losing!' San Antonio Spurs, Cedi Osman Ready to Play 'Best Game' Against Chicago Bulls

After falling short yet again against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the San Antonio Spurs' shortcomings continue, but they're not focused on that.

The San Antonio Spurs are tired of losing. 

To be frank, it'd be concerning if they weren't. Losing 15 straight to sit just one game below a franchise-worst losing streak isn't an ideal place to be, and unfortunately for coach Gregg Popovich's squad, it hasn't shown the kind of late-game resiliency that a competitive team needs to. 

San Antonio's most recent loss to Minnesota only proved that further. 

Facing the top-seeded Timberwolves was never going to be an easy task. The Spurs knew that, but they still put their best food forward in an attempt to win a basketball game. And for the first half, it worked.

The Spurs took a seven-point lead to halftime and put together a solid 24 minutes of action, as Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell and Doug McDermott helped keep the Silver & Black out front. But that lead didn't last too long into the second half.

Dec 6, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson (1) drives past San Antonio Spurs forward Cedi Osman (16) in the third quarter at Target Center / © Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota opened the second half on a 12-2 run to take back the lead, and from there, it took control. The Spurs lost once again and took a flight back home winless.

But they're not going to dwell on their own shortcomings. They're focusing on the positive aspects of the matchup.

"I think we were really good defensively," Spurs forward Cedi Osman said. "Even though that third quarter they made a run, we still managed [to make it] a tight game." 

The Spurs didn't completely roll over, though it constantly felt as if they were playing keep-up, and not just score wise. Between keeping up with Rudy Gobert and slowing down Anthony Edwards — among others, as five Minnesota players finished in double digits — San Antonio just didn't match up. And Osman knows it.

But again, instead of dwelling on that, the Spurs are looking ahead to hosting the Chicago Bulls in a very winnable game. 

"I think we gave up a lot of offensive rebounds," Osman said. "I think we could get better in terms of rebounding, but I think we’d be in a good spot. We have a great opportunity now [against] Chicago to go ahead and play our best game cause.

"Everybody’s done with losing."

Chicago is currently on a three-game win streak without Zach LaVine — who will be sidelined for 3-4 weeks with a foot injury — and will be looking to continue that on the road against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, but if all goes according to plan, finally, the home team will be able to piece together a win. 

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And if it does that, it could be the start of a momentum-building win streak. Just maybe. It's not guaranteed, but the Spurs are certainly going to treat it as such.

They're tired of losing, and ready to start winning.

Tipoff from Frost Bank Center against the Bulls is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CST Friday.