Spurs Fall to Cavaliers In Ticky-Tacky Matchup

The San Antonio Spurs lost their second game against the Cleveland Cavaliers this season, although four Spurs recorded double-digit points.
Spurs Fall to Cavaliers In Ticky-Tacky Matchup
Spurs Fall to Cavaliers In Ticky-Tacky Matchup /

The San Antonio Spurs have been swept in the season series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. After losing to the Cavs by two points in Cleveland, the Spurs got blown out 117-101 at home on Saturday night.

Devin Vassell led the way for the Spurs with 22 points, and Donovan Mitchell scored 31 for Cleveland. Victor Wembanyama added 19 points, 14 rebounds, and a pair of blocks.

Donovan Mitchell Jeremy Sochan Cavaliers
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Zach Collins and Keldon Johnson also had solid scoring nights, posting 10 and 17, respectively. 

While the Spurs could not make a three, going 12-for-40 from deep, the officiating was the main focus. Johnson was called for a technical foul hanging on the rim, and both teams used challenges. Cleveland and San Antonio combined for 32 free-throw attempts, although the Cavs were called for six more fouls than San Antonio.

With 54 seconds left, frustrations got the best of the Spurs. Collins threw an elbow on Donovan Mitchell, who got up swinging. The two were quickly pulled apart, and Collins was given a flagrant-two foul and ejected. 

Mitchell was also ejected, throwing his jersey into the crowd to raucous roars from the home crowd at the Frost Bank Center. Tensions had been running high all night, between the teams and the officials. 

Near the end of the game, which was never that close, Bill Land was happy to announce that "the nightmare is almost over."

NBA Betting Odds: Spurs Favorite to Trade for Pistons' Hayes?

The Spurs will begin their Rodeo Road Trip on Wednesday, traveling to Miami. They will play nine games on the road before returning home on February 27th. 


Published
Jonah Kubicek
JONAH KUBICEK

Jonah Kubicek has been writing about the NBA since 2021, covering the Pistons, Jazz, Spurs, Magic, Rockets, and Knicks. As a lifelong Spurs fan living in Michigan, he never misses an opportunity to bring up the 2005 NBA Finals (you should have guarded Horry!). He is a long-suffering Tigers fan and closely follows the NFL, although he never found an affinity for the Lions. Jonah graduated from Oakland University with a degree in History and spends his spare time playing tennis or reading. Follow Jonah on Twitter for updates on Tre Jones and other NBA news.