On Sunday evening, the San Antonio Spurs escaped a fatal home opener with a 118:117 home win against the visiting Brooklyn Nets. The new duo of Victor Wembanyama and rookie Dylan Harper played the biggest role in turning a blown 26-point lead into a win.
Head coach Mitch Johnson’s team had everything under control until the third quarter. A dunk from Stephon Castle (13 points, 6 rebounds) brought the Spurs’ (3-0) lead to 26 points for the first time three minutes after the break.
But the still winless Nets responded with an 18:1 run to reduce the deficit to 73:82 after two free throws from the outstanding Cam Thomas (40 points). It only took until the start of the fourth quarter for Nets coach Jordi Fernandez’s team to take the lead at the Frost Bank Center.
For the guests from New York’s furious response, the Spurs needed their own reaction, which they got in a co-production by Wembanyama and Harper. The pair scored 16 of Spurs’ last 23 points to avert a debacle in their first home game of the season.
Harper introduces himself to the Spurs fans
The Frenchman needed some time to get going before he could have an impact on the game. Ultimately, however, he was the outstanding man on both ends of the court with 31 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 6 blocks.
Number two pick Harper gave Spurs fans a first taste of his future with strong defense and several impressive finishes at the rim. His name ultimately stood behind 20 points and 8 rebounds – his team won the minutes with him on the field with 33 points.
For the Nets, everything came down to Cam Thomas, who played with a broken nose. However, he missed twice from the three-point line when his team was down 107:110. Eight subsequent points from the hosts made the first home win of the series perfect.