The San Antonio Spurs were without two of their best players in their most recent win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Even without Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, the San Antonio Spurs were favorites against the Portland Trail Blazers, and they did not disappoint, winning 112-101.
While Castle has taken over as arguably the second-best player on the roster, the Spurs were not short of star power. De'Aaron Fox reminded fans why he was selected as an All-Star this season, finishing with 25 points, seven assists, and three steals.
While Fox's steady hand made sure the Spurs were in control the entire game, two players stepped into a bigger role, making sure the Spurs led for three quarters and showcasing the team's depth before the playoffs.
Two Backups Stand Out in Most Recent Win
Keldon Johnson is a leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, and he may have cemented his spot on Wednesday. He finished with 20 points and eight rebounds, dominating the paint even against Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III.
Carter Bryant, meanwhile, was red-hot from 3-point range and a difference-maker on defense. Both he and Dylan Harper have been asked to play a smaller role than most lottery picks this season, but they took the demotion in stride.
"KJ, I think, has been the best bench player in the league this year," praised Fox. "And Carter, you know, was just confident. We want him to be confident. If teams are gonna put their fives on him, you know, we want him to be able to take those shots with confidence. Then it makes them take one step out, and it helps our offense. But not just offensively, I think they were great for us defensively. I mean, the main reason that we won the game. They came in, they gave us a spark in both the first and second half."
While both Castle and Wembanyama are expected to return for the first playoff game, if not sooner, the Spurs' depth being on full display allowed the team to breathe easier knowing that they can trust anyone to go off on any given night.
"I thought we had really good contributions from everybody that played," agreed Mitch Johnson. "And obviously, we needed more minutes than a few guys have been averaging. And I thought we did a good job with some responses throughout a game against a very competitive team that really pushed the envelope, pressuring on one end and then trying to drive you on the other end. So I thought we did a good job as a group."
Bryant going five-of-six from deep was a welcome surprise. Not expected to be much of a shooter in his rookie season, he is making 33.1 percent of his attempts on limited numbers.
In his last ten games, that percentage has gone up to 38.6, in line with the league average.
"The ball found him, and he shot in rhythm with confidence when he was open," added the head coach. "But he also had five rebounds, four assists, a steal, a couple of appropriate fouls, playing with physicality. And we needed it tonight, and that's what we're looking for him to continue to grow in."