Game Thread Spurs (62-19)vs Nuggets (53-28) (Sunday 4/12/26) [7:30PM CDT]

[scott]

Game has implications. Let’s win it.

Spurs favored by 4.5, game is on ESPN.

 

[heyheymymy]

Spurs controlled the majority of last game. Just limit fouls and mistakes and SA should win this one.

 

[scott]

Spurs controlled the majority of last game. Just limit fouls and mistakes and SA should win this one.

And the game before that (without Wemby) tbh. The Nuggets are a tough puzzle to solve, but we’re getting there and I believe we are ready to break through.

We got this.

GSG

 

[spurraider21]

LFG

In a game where neither team is likely to go all-out, i trust our deep bench more than theirs to get this done

End the season with less than 20 losses

 

[Trifecta]

Spurs controlled the majority of last game. Just limit fouls and mistakes and SA should win this one.

You’re right - and when it comes to mistakes, Fox needs to calm down and limit his if he is going to get the majority of playing time over Harper.

 

[Russ]

LFG

In a game where neither team is likely to go all-out, i trust our deep bench more than theirs to get this done

End the season with less than 20 losses

Wouldn't we put in some effort to try to stay away from Denver in the 2nd Round?

And wouldn't Denver do the same to try to stay away from OKC in the 2nd Round?

(And both teams will be off for a week after the game, so rest shouldn't be a factor.)

 

[heyheymymy]

You’re right - and when it comes to mistakes, Fox needs to calm down and limit his if he is going to get the majority of playing time over Harper.

And Castle needs to quit picking up two quick dumb fouls early. In a playoff game Castle having to sit with fouls could be costly. No single possession in the first half is worth reaching in on when you have Wemby.

 

[scott]

If they let Wemby play, I don’t see him trying to play it “safe”. He’ll try to score 40 in 25 minutes again, especially against Joker. He takes this shit personally.

 

[heyheymymy]

And the game before that (without Wemby) tbh. The Nuggets are a tough puzzle to solve, but we’re getting there and I believe we are ready to break through.

We got this.

GSG

Hats off to Denver. They can get really scorching and it's kinda unstoppable. Braun and Cam create problems with outside shooting. But I agree, Spurs hang with the Nuggets pretty well this season. Seems like they could ultimately figure them out in a seven game series.

 

[Trifecta]

And Castle needs to quit picking up two quick dumb fouls early. In a playoff game Castle having to sit with fouls could be costly. No single possession in the first half is worth reaching in on when you have Wemby.

For sure - some of his fouls are unnecessary (away from the play) but his aggressive instincts kicks in and he gets nailed. Don’t want him to be less aggressive, just smart.

 

[Mugen]

I’m not sure if Denver plays Murray and Gordon tbh

 

[DTW]

Tough call. On the one hand, why risk injury to any rotation player? On the other hand, if any are going to play, then all (save maybe Wembanyama, Castle or anyone banged up) should, but at that point they'd essentially be admitting to themselves and telling the Nuggets that they're more concerned with avoiding a probable WCSF matchup than risking injury.

 

[wEmBoY]

Tough call. On the one hand, why risk injury to any rotation player? On the other hand, if any are going to play, then all (save maybe Wembanyama, Castle or anyone banged up) should, but at that point they'd essentially be admitting to themselves and telling the Nuggets that they're more concerned with avoiding a probable WCSF matchup than risking injury.

All of a sudden posters here ignoring the risk of injury and wants full squad to play and beat the nuggets just to avoid them in the 2nd round. Lmao

 

[Russ]

All of a sudden posters here ignoring the risk of injury and wants full squad to play and beat the nuggets just to avoid them in the 2nd round. Lmao

There seem to be two schools of thought here.

One is that this is almost a playoff game with both sides selling out to win.

The other is, let's take it easy and avoid injury (not that that approach guarantees any such result).

The game tomorrow will tell us which way the wind blows as Dylan would say.

 

[Coyote2!]

I say rest all the starters and let Jokic dance with our secret weapon...

 

[Biggems]

Barnes needs 17 points. Get him going early and often. Try and get him to 17 by halftime, then park his butt for the rest of the game.

Sit

Wemby
Castle
Fox
Champ
Kornet
Vassell

Play first half

Harper
Barnes if he reaches 17 points

Extended minutes

Bryant
Waters
McLaughlin
Plumlee
Olynyk
Biyombo
Ingram
Any other G Leaguer we can call up

 

[wEmBoY]

There seem to be two schools of thought here.

One is that this is almost a playoff game with both sides selling out to win.

The other is, let's take it easy and avoid injury (not that that approach guarantees any such result).

The game tomorrow will tell us which way the wind blows as Dylan would say.

Spurs already won 62 games and locked up the 2nd seed. Sunday’s game doesnt matter anymore, unless they care about who they face in the 2nd round which is weird if they do. That will be the first time i see a top 2 teams playing for someting even if the reality is they dont have someting to play for.

I could see them not playing wemby though.

 

[wEmBoY]

Barnes needs 17 points. Get him going early and often. Try and get him to 17 by halftime, then park his butt for the rest of the game.

Sit

Wemby
Castle
Fox
Champ
Kornet
Vassell

Play first half

Harper
Barnes if he reaches 17 points

Extended minutes

Bryant
Waters
McLaughlin
Plumlee
Olynyk
Biyombo
Ingram
Any other G Leaguer we can call up

But but we’re going to get the nuggets in the 2nd round if we sit our rotation players.

 

[Mugen]

FWIW, Lakers are -16.5 against Utah tomorrow.

As someone who has permanent ptsd after watching Manu break his arm in the last game of the regular season, my first inclination is to sit everybody.

But they’ve been home for a week, another week of rest after tomorrow. Everybody is young. F it, let em knock down Denver down to #4 tomorrow tbh.

 

[spursistan]

Barnes needs 17 points. Get him going early and often. Try and get him to 17 by halftime, then park his butt for the rest of the game.

Sit

Wemby
Castle
Fox
Champ
Kornet
Vassell

Play first half

Harper
Barnes if he reaches 17 points

Extended minutes

Bryant
Waters
McLaughlin
Plumlee
Olynyk
Biyombo
Ingram
Any other G Leaguer we can call up

Why should we give a fuck about Barnes' meaningless streak? who cares about a secondary, past-his-prime role player stats?

 

[spurraider21]

Nuggets sitting everybody but joker is questionable

https://twitter.com/x/status/2043083581874975087

 

[Dex]

I say rest all the starters and let Jokic dance with our secret weapon...

View attachment 1614

I like how you had to go back to Charlotte days to find pictures of Biyombo doing something cool

 

[scott]

Why should we give a fuck about Barnes' meaningless streak? who cares about a secondary, past-his-prime role player stats?

It’s not a streak for Barnes, it would be a record for the team - the first time a team has had 8 double digits scorers (with the minimum 58 games played for stats to count on the leaderboard) for the season.

The Spurs may or may not care, but this would be a team record, not just “Barnes’ stats”

 

[heyheymymy]

As someone who has permanent ptsd after watching Manu break his arm in the last game of the regular season, my first inclination is to sit everybody.

Total nightmare. Still hate Grant Hill even though it was not dirty. SA was #1 seed 61-21 and that end of reg season Suns game was meaningless for standings iirc. Everyone fluffs the #8 upsetting #1 stat but never caveat with the Manu injury. Was almost worth it for robo arm Ginobili memes

 

[scott]

Nuggets sitting everybody but joker is questionable

https://twitter.com/x/status/2043083581874975087

Thanks sr! Jokic will play his 20 and they’ll sit him. Honestly, we don’t need Wemby or Castle to win this one.