The San Antonio Spurs extended their winning streak with a 135-126 victory over the Atlanta Hawks last night. According to FOX San Antonio, Spurs’ top draft pick Victor Wembanyama was sidelined with a left calf strain, but De’Aaron Fox and Keldon Johnson led the team with 26 and 25 points, respectively. The Hawks were also without key player Trae Young, who is recovering from a right MCL sprain.
The Hawks, ending a five-game winning streak, were led by Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who scored a career-high 38 points. Jalen Johnson contributed 26 points, but the team was unable to overcome the Spurs, who improved to 11-4—marking their best 15-game start since the 2016-17 season, as reported by NBA.
Spurs rookie guard David Jones Garcia, on a two-way contract from the Dominican Republic, recorded season highs with 12 points, six assists, five rebounds, three steals, and a block. As per FOX San Antonio, Jones Garcia helped spark a 34-12 run to open the second quarter, giving the Spurs a 62-46 lead with 4:19 remaining in the first half.
The Spurs played without Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle (strained left hip flexor), and Dylan Harper (strained left calf) but maintained their momentum. Julian Champagnie scored 20 points, and Harrison Barnes added 14 points, surpassing 14,000 career points. Jones Garcia’s playmaking helped respond to a Hawks rally that briefly gave them a 101-100 lead, leading to key scores from Champagnie and a dunk by Jeremy Sochan, extending the Spurs’ lead to 110-101.
The Atlanta Hawks will look to bounce back from their two-game skid when they face the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Spurs aim to continue their winning streak on the road against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
