SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs picked up their second win in a row with a 113-103 home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Keldon Johnson had 25 points and eight rebounds to lead the team. Jeremy Sochan finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Victor Wembanyama had 17 points and six rebounds, Harrison Barnes finished with 14, Malaki Branham had six, and Chris Paul had 15 points and 13 assists.
San Antonio was without Devin Vassell and Tre Jones due to injury. Head coach Gregg Popovich was also out due to illness. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson assumed head coaching duties for the game.
The Spurs are 3-3 to start the season and will next visit the Clippers on Monday night.
Here's a sample of what the Spurs said after the game.
SPURS
Mitch Johnson:
“We raised our level and then maintained it. We knew this is a team with high aspirations in Minnesota, and they’re trying to set the tone early in the season, and we were going to get their best shot. We knew when they came out, maybe a little tired or sluggish [from] last night, they were going to still come back and make a couple of runs at us. I think we did a good job of trying to weather the storm there a couple of times.”
Paul:
"Before the Utah game, [Coach Popovich] came in the locker room and said how he would like us to play and keeping [Victor Wembanyama] facing the basket instead of with his back to the basket as much as possible. Obviously, he will still post up here and there. Y’all saw it preseason. I missed a few games, Vic did, so these first few games have sort of been like training camp for us. Like I keep saying, you want to win and learn at the same time, so that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Keldon Johnson:
"All the things that we emphasized in training camp and at the start of the season until now. That’s just the main thing, just having each other’s back. That was a great team out there tonight [the Timberwolves], they got some great players and without one another we wouldn’t be able to get it done. That’s the main thing. It was an amazing team win.”
Wembanyama:
"Things are going well. I think right now, we can pick up good momentum. We have to use it. We’re gonna build for tougher times."