The San Antonio Spurs didn’t just head into the All-Star break - they kicked the door down on their way in.
Down 16 points in the third quarter on the road against Golden State, the Spurs could’ve packed it in, chalked it up to a tough night, and looked ahead to the break. Instead, they flipped the switch, turned up the intensity, and walked out of Chase Center with a 126-113 win - their sixth straight - and another loud message to the rest of the NBA: this team is growing up fast.
This wasn’t just a comeback. It was a statement.
Golden State came out with purpose, moving the ball crisply and hitting from deep. They controlled the tempo early, exploiting defensive breakdowns and building a double-digit lead that felt like it might balloon.
The Spurs looked out of sync - a step slow defensively, a beat off on offense. But even as the Warriors surged, San Antonio didn’t flinch.
No panic. No finger-pointing.
Just a team sticking to its identity.
Then came the shift.
Midway through the third, the Spurs tightened the screws. They started cutting off driving lanes, contesting everything, and making Golden State uncomfortable. The Warriors’ offense, which had been humming, suddenly looked rushed and reactive.
On the other end, San Antonio got back to basics - attacking the paint, setting hard screens, and moving with purpose. The offense flowed through the lane, not around it, and the Warriors had no answer for the physicality.
De’Aaron Fox lit the fuse. He finished with 27 points and eight assists, but it was his control of the game’s tempo that truly turned the tide.
In the closing minutes of the third, Fox carved up the defense with decisive drives and midrange jumpers, slowly slicing into the deficit. A deep jumper just before the buzzer capped a furious run and tied the game heading into the fourth.
And then Victor Wembanyama took over.
The 7-foot-4 phenom delivered 26 points and nine rebounds, but his fingerprints were all over the fourth quarter. He altered two shots at the rim on back-to-back possessions, then sprinted the floor for an alley-oop that ignited the Spurs bench.
Moments later, he stepped out and calmly buried a three. Just like that, a close game turned into a San Antonio lead - and Chase Center went quiet.
The Spurs outscored Golden State 32-19 in the final frame, suffocating them with length and physicality. They owned the glass, attacked mismatches, and never let the Warriors find their rhythm.
Keldon Johnson was huge off the bench, pouring in 21 points with a mix of bruising drives and timely threes. His energy stabilized the second unit and kept the momentum rolling when the starters rested. It was the kind of performance that doesn’t always show up in highlight reels, but wins games.
Golden State didn’t go quietly. Draymond Green brought his usual fire, nearly posting a triple-double and battling inside.
Moses Moody and De’Anthony Melton chipped in from the perimeter. But without Stephen Curry in the lineup and without consistent offensive flow, the Warriors couldn’t keep pace with San Antonio’s execution down the stretch.
What stood out most wasn’t the run - it was the poise.
Earlier in the season, a 16-point hole on the road might’ve rattled this young Spurs team. But on Wednesday night, it sharpened them.
Defensive rotations snapped into place. Communication improved.
They looked like a team that’s starting to understand how to win the tough ones - the ones where talent alone isn’t enough.
This wasn’t just another win. It was another sign that the Spurs are turning a corner.
At 38-16, they head into the All-Star break with momentum, confidence, and a growing identity. The offense is humming.
The defense is tightening. And the Fox-Wembanyama connection?
It's becoming one of the most dangerous duos in the league - a blend of speed, size, and smarts that’s giving opponents fits.
For a team that used to lean on potential, the Spurs are now leaning on results.
Wednesday night was proof: when they get punched, they don’t fold. They respond.
And more and more often, they finish.
Game Notes:
- The Warriors have historically posed problems for the Spurs, and early on, it looked like that trend might continue. But San Antonio’s resilience told a different story - one that bodes well for the post-All-Star stretch.
- With Jeremy Sochan waived, there’s now an open roster spot. Whether the Spurs fill it could hinge on how Carter Bryant performs in the back half of the season.
- Harrison Barnes continues to settle into his new bench role, adding 10 points and showing growing confidence with the second unit. His veteran presence could be a sneaky asset down the stretch.