Spurs Weekly Recap: Grit, Growth, and a Glimpse of What’s Possible
We’re 15 weeks into the NBA season, and the San Antonio Spurs continue to be one of the most intriguing teams in the league - not because they’re dominating the standings, but because they’re still figuring out how to turn flashes of brilliance into consistent execution. This past week was a microcosm of their season: frustrating at times, impressive at others, and always worth watching.
Week 14 Recap: The Roller Coaster Keeps Rolling
January was a month of inconsistency for San Antonio, and that trend didn’t let up. They opened with a convincing win at home against the Jazz, only to follow it up with a frustrating collapse on the road in Houston. The Spurs led by 16 early, only to get outscored by 15 in the fourth quarter - a gut-punch loss to a division rival.
They nearly repeated that script in Utah, letting a big lead slip away before Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox stepped up in crunch time to seal a much-needed win. But just when it looked like the Spurs might be turning a corner, they dropped another winnable game at home to the Pelicans.
Despite storming back from 20 down to take a late lead, the Spurs couldn’t close the deal. That game perfectly encapsulated their January: promising stretches undone by lapses in focus and execution.
Week 15: A 2-1 Record, But It Was Anything But Routine
111-99 Win at Houston Rockets
Talk about flipping the script. After coughing up a lead to the Rockets the week prior, the Spurs found themselves trailing by 16 in the third quarter of the rematch.
But this time, they didn’t fold. Instead, they tightened the screws defensively and started playing with the kind of urgency and physicality that’s been missing in their rougher outings.
The turnaround was dramatic. San Antonio outworked Houston down the stretch, locking in on defense and making smart plays on the offensive end.
It wasn’t just a solid win - it was a statement. The Spurs now hold a 2-1 lead in the season series, which could prove significant in tie-breaker scenarios down the line.
106-111 Loss at Charlotte Hornets
This one had “trap game” written all over it. The Hornets have been playing better than their record suggests, and the game was moved up to a morning tip-off in an effort to beat an incoming winter storm (spoiler: it didn’t work). San Antonio actually won three of the four quarters, but a disastrous end to the second proved too much to overcome.
They trimmed a 20-point deficit down to just two late in the game, but the hole they dug was too deep. It was another reminder that even brief lapses - especially on the road - can cost you against any team in this league.
112-103 Win vs. Orlando Magic
If the Spurs had come out flat in this one, no one would’ve blamed them. After sitting on the tarmac in Charlotte for two hours, spending the night unexpectedly, and then dealing with engine trouble that forced an emergency landing in Atlanta, the team had to go straight from the airport to the arena.
And yet, they gutted out one of their most impressive wins of the season.
Yes, they had another second-quarter meltdown - getting outscored 40-23 - but they owned the first and third quarters and never let the physical, chirpy Magic get under their skin. Desmond Bane tried to light a spark for Orlando with some trash talk, but the Spurs stayed composed. Given the circumstances, this was a win that said a lot about their mental toughness.
Power Rankings Update
NBA.com (John Schuhmann): Spurs up to No. 3 (from No. 4)
- Offensive Rating: 116.2 (10th)
- Defensive Rating: 111.1 (3rd)
- Net Rating: +5.1 (6th)
- Pace: 100.4 (17th)
Despite alternating wins and losses over their last seven games, the Spurs are still firmly in the Western Conference mix. Their comeback win in Houston was a big reason for the bump in the rankings, and the coaching staff will now join Victor Wembanyama in Los Angeles for All-Star Weekend - a well-earned honor for a group that’s helped this young team find its footing.
Three Key Takeaways
1. Defensive Grit When It Matters Most
In the Houston win, San Antonio held the Rockets to just 23 points on their final 39 possessions - that’s 0.59 points per possession, which is elite-level defense. This team has shown it can lock in when it needs to.
They’ve trailed by double digits in 17 of their 49 games and are 6-11 in those situations - five of those comeback wins have come against playoff-caliber teams like Houston (twice), Denver, New York, and Oklahoma City.
2. Defensive Rebounding Still a Work in Progress
The Spurs rank third in defensive rebounding percentage on the season, but that strength wavered late in January. Over their last three games of the month, they secured just 61.7% of available defensive boards.
That’s a problem when you’re giving up second-chance points like they did against the Pelicans (27-9) and Hornets (18-4). They cleaned that up against the Magic, holding them to one of their worst offensive rebounding games of the season - a good sign heading into February.
3. A Shakeup in the Starting Five
Devin Vassell returned to the starting lineup on Saturday, replacing Harrison Barnes instead of Julian Champagnie. That’s notable - Barnes, one of only three Spurs to play in every game this season, hadn’t come off the bench in a regular season game in more than a decade.
Still, he was on the floor in crunch time, not Champagnie, and committed a costly foul on a Miles Bridges three-point attempt with just over a minute to play. The rotation is still evolving, and it’ll be interesting to see how Coach Mitch Johnson balances development with winning down the stretch.
Looking Ahead
The Spurs have a chance to build some momentum. They face the Thunder on Wednesday - the last time OKC came to San Antonio, the Spurs had a rest advantage and won by 20. They’ll have that edge again in what will be the fifth and final regular-season meeting between the two.
After that, it’s a quirky home-and-away miniseries against the Mavericks. Dallas has improved since San Antonio blew them out to open the season, but they’re still missing key pieces like Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. The Spurs should have the edge at home, and if they bring the same energy they showed in Houston and against Orlando, a 2-1 week is well within reach.
Bottom Line:
The Spurs are still learning how to win consistently, but the pieces are there.
Wembanyama and Fox are evolving into a dangerous duo, the defense can clamp down when needed, and the team is showing signs of resilience. Now it’s about stringing those moments together and turning potential into something more permanent.