Unfortunately, Love fell just short of another triple-double in a heartbreaking 132-134 road loss to the feisty Minnesota Timberwolves, his former team, after D'Angelo Russell blew past Fred VanVleet and Love to score a go-ahead layup, signifying the need for Drummond's return and juxtaposing each big man's respective talents. San Antonio may've held on for a big win had Drummond been defending the rim, instead. Regardless, Drummond came back officially for San Antonio's next game against the Chicago Bulls, as the Spurs won a thirty-point blowout (137-107). Drummond had 17 points & 10 rebounds, with 3 steals & 2 blocks. Over the course of their next three games, Andre totaled 42 points, 41 rebounds & 9 blocks, showcasing why San Antonio needs their dominant center down low.
To rid all possible remaining tension, the Spurs front office agreed to a 2 year/$36m contract extension with Drummond to avoid any free agency stress next summer. Compared to this final year of his current contract, the Spurs will save roughly 12 million for those following two seasons, which bodes well for upgrading the roster via financial flexibility. It also establishes Drummond as a key piece of this Spurs dynasty trifecta, as Brandon Ingram & Dejounte Murray are set to receive the brunt of their own max contracts after this season. Drummond had previously been signed to a 4 year, 125 million pact.
San Antonio remains undefeated at home at 18-0, all three of its losses coming on the road. In those three losses, the biggest margin of defeat was 15 points to the Grizzlies, with a 5-PT loss to Utah & the recent 2-PT nailbiter loss to Minnesota. The Mavericks came close, falling by only 4 points in San Antonio. The Warriors had Klay Thompson sitting in shock as Buddy Hield's game-winner propelled the Spurs to a 2-PT victory at home--and Brandon Ingram's 44 points certainly helped, too. The Jazz, being the Jazz, also only lost by 4 to the Spurs.
Speaking of Hield, he scored 34 points and splashed in eight 3PT daggers against the Clippers as the Spurs hit a total of 22 long shots, a season high. Buddy is averaging 17.7ppg on 54% from 3PT territory, making 4 out of 7 every game. Hield has already toppled Fred VanVleet from the perch of the Spurs #1 3PT standings, with 148 so far this season. Buddy has shot into the third place, just behind Ingram & Murray on Total Points scored this season, proving his value to his new team.
As the Spurs continue to mesh as a unit, the goal is to have every player's talents at the ready, with team chemistry a priority and getting more burn for every lineup option. Otto Porter, Jr. continues to be a scoring weapon off the bench, with Paul Millsap's reliable veteran defense valuable, along with Brandon Clarke's raw athleticism and defensive energy. It looks like Marquese Chriss will be sticking around, having done well behind Love in Drummond's absence. Jeff Teague is beginning to show some control over the second unit as the playmaker, as chippy defenders Wes Matthews & Courtney Lee continue to surprise in limited action. Lastly, Dellavedova flusters the star point guards from time to time, showing his value to the team as well, with rookie center Charles Bassey showing promise. "We are fifteen strong this season, no doubt", Coach Popovich said after the team's latest win against the Clippers.
"We hit a lot of 3's. Our shooters are great. Most of the time, I can just find them and they light it up. Sometimes, though, I see us falling behind and the action not quite flowing like we want it to flow, so I've been trying to step up my game as soon as I get that sense, to push us in a good direction, to win the game," Murray said. Dejounte's highest scoring performance so far this season was 41 points, coming in the loss to Memphis, but that is likely to accompany a "W" before long. Some games, it's Ingram that takes over the show, but together, they are a deadly duo.
"He's truly becoming a leader for us," Coach Pop spoke highly of Murray.
