@tomorsborn
In my 40th year as a reporter with the San Antonio Express-News and my 11th consecutive season as one of the E-N’s Spurs beat writers. Also do occasional stories on food insecurity issues. Proud San Antonio College alumnus. 🏳️🌈ally
J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters before Thursday night's game it's incorrect to say the Spurs aren't a physical team.
In beating East-leading Detroit for the 2nd time in 11 days, the Spurs proved him right.
“We didn't blink,” Mitch Johnson said.
www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...
From late last night:
A 48-year-old man was shot at least twice in a parking lot at the Frost Bank Center after the Spurs game against Detroit on Thursday night, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said.
www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...
Wemby experienced a surge of patriotism when he heard the French national anthem being sung in the stands at the Frost Bank Center on Thursday night.
www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...
A 48-year-old male was shot at least twice in a parking lot at the Frost Bank Center after the Spurs game against Detroit on Thursday night, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said.
www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...
Mitch Johnson said Barnes remains day-to-day.
“We have to keep these guys from (hurting) themselves, and Harrison would be out there tonight if we didn’t have a say so and (we) make sure we have the big picture in mind,” the coach said.
Mitch Johnson on the hard-nosed Pistons: “They are as physical as anybody in the league. They are going to challenge your physicality in more ways than any other team that I think we've played, and they're going to do it every possession. … They are going to test our will.”
Asked about Dylan Harper’s admiration for Cade Cunningham, Mitch Johnson was quick to respond.
"Dylan’s got good taste," the Spurs coach said.
On the similarities between Harper and Cunningham and how they got to rub elbows at All-Star weekend.
www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...
Harrison Barnes remains out, per Spurs injury report.
Mitch Johnson praised Luke Kornet for showing "courage" in speaking out against the Atlanta Hawks promoting an Atlanta strip club.
www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...
After going 11-0 in February, the Spurs clean up in the West, collecting player of month and defensive player of month (Wemby), rookie of month (Harper) and coach of month (Mitch).
It marks just the 3rd time a team has swept those honors since 1982-83.
www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...
To tie a bow on the Spurs' undefeated 11-0 February, the NBA has named Wemby its West player of the month after he averaged 22.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks.
Detroit's Cade Cunningham earned East honors after averaging 25.4/6.5/9.9 in leading Pistons to a 9-2 mark.
#Spurs reap the benefits from their undefeated February, including Mitch Johnson earning West coaching honors.
After losing to the Spurs, J.B. Bickerstaff said this of Mitch: "He's an extremely talented coach, great dude, great communicator, great leader.”
www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...
NBA honors Dylan Harper after he came on strong in February following a January slump.
www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...
Wemby had his struggles offensively in late February, but one thing that never faltered in the month was his dominant play on the defensive end.
NBA honors him as the West’s top defender for February.
www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...
Spurs center Luke Kornet is doubling down on his call for the Hawks to cancel a promotional night the club has scheduled with an Atlanta strip club.
Updated story after he spoke with reporters following shootaround this morning in Philadelphia:
www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...
#Spurs’ Luke Kornet is calling on the Hawks to cancel a promotional night for an Atlanta strip club, saying the NBA would be “complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society.”
But others are defending the decision.
www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...
NBA has announced two broadcast changes involving the Spurs:
At the Clippers on March 16 will now be televised by Peacock. Start has been changed to 9 p.m. Central.
At Sacramento on March 17 will no longer be televised by NBC/Peacock. Start has been changed to a 9 p.m. Central.
Spurs list Castle (left hip flexor tightness) and Keldon Johnson (left shoulder sprain) as questionable for tonight at Brooklyn.
Please follow @jmcdonaldsa.bsky.social for updates and other reports from the remainder of this trip.
Spurs shrug off free throw woes in Toronto.
"It's a long season. ... It's going to happen. It's human nature," Mitch Johnson said after his team hit just 13 of 23, including missing 6 of 10 in the fourth quarter.
www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...
Spurs notebook leads off with a look at how the surging team is “keeping its feet on the ground” while others talk championship.
Also, Mitch Johnson has bittersweet reaction to Sandro Mamukelashvili blossoming with Raptors.
www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...
Victor Wembanyama has been going pretty hard since the All-Star Game.
On Wednesday night, it caught up with him.
"I didn't recover tonight…I need to do a better job getting my treatment in, getting more sleep,” he said.
www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...
The (we’ll take a win however we can get it) triple take: Spurs 110, Raptors 107.
1, Mitch shows confidence in Harper.
2, Wemby needs rest.
3, Foul shooting a weakness.
www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs...
Wemby blamed his tough shooting night (3 of 12 from the field, 1 of 6 from distance) on a general lack of rest dating back to the All-Star Game:
"I need to do a better job getting my treatment in, getting more sleep. I couldn't sleep last night. Yeah, I wasn't in shape today."
Mitch Johnson on playing Harper so much down the stretch:
“Steph was healthy. … We got different guys different nights. We got a deep team. Dylan deserved to finish the game.”
Spurs overcome a 15-point 3Q deficit to down the Raptors 110-107 after Brandon Ingram missed a potential tying 3 in the final seconds.
Spurs hit just 13 of 23 from the foul line.
They head to Brooklyn for Thursday's game with a 10-game winning streak.
Raptors up 73-69 with 5:45 left in 3Q.
Toronto is on the second night of a home b2b, but it’s the Spurs that seem a bit sluggish. Shots coming up short, feet not moving on defense, etc.
Keldon playing through a sore left shoulder after Spurs had him questionable to return.
Is the winning streak in jeopardy?: Raptors 59, Spurs 57
Wemby has just 4 points on 0 of 4 from the field. Harper has 15, Vassell 13, Fox 10.
Ingram, Barnes with a combined 27 for Toronto.
Working in Spurs’ favor, Toronto is on 2nd night of a b2b, so legs could get worry in second half.
Under the heading I’m not in Texas anymore:
Fans gave a hearty round of applause when the Raptors introduced 89-year-old David Suzuki, a fierce advocate for global climate action who recently told iPolitics the fight against climate change is lost: “What we’ve got to do now is hunker down.”
With 13, Dylan Harper appears to be on his way to his sixth game this season with 20 or more points and his first since he had 20 in a loss at Charlotte on Jan. 31. The rookie came into tonight averaging 10.9 points per game.