San Antone: The Gait Toward Eight

Spurs: Year Nine Live 19? Previous Roster C: Noah/O’Quinn/Okafor PF: Gay/Gasol/Labissiere SF: Leonard/Bertans/Smith SG: Bradley/Shumpert PG: Murray/Mills Free agents: O’Quinn (expiring) Shumpert (expiring) Leonard (expiring) McLemore (expiring) Labissiere (Team option: 2.26m) Murray: 1.69m team option Gasol (team option) Players Under Contract: Noah: 1yr/19.28m Gay 1yr/9m Gasol: 1yr/16m (team option) Bertans: 1yr/7.3m Murray: 1yr/1.69m Bradley: 1yr/13.23m Mills: 2yr/26m

The weary Spurs found themselves in yet another fight with another rival, the Utah Jazz, but strong deny-ball defense chased away Donovan Mitchell (11 points) and the overall aggression by San Antonio forced Rudy Gobert's perfect night to end abruptly, as the big French man fouled out (14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks: 6-6 FG%) alongside Derrick Favors (19 points, 9 rebounds).    Left to defend home was Ricky Rubio's playmaking of 19 points and 12 assists, but outside of the two big men, Rubio had little help, as Jae Crowder contributed 11 points with Joe Ingles going cold.The Spurs were able to rest Kawhi Leonard, hot off a demanding 44-point night in Oakland, as they commanded control early, watched it waver, then recuperated just enough to outlast Utah's rally. The Jazz actually cut the lead to four points, but Patty Mills (again) hit a 3PTer to quell their momentum.    San Antonio led 92-74 after the third quarter due to strong shooting and stronger defense

Gasol blocked Thompson at the buzzer, sealing the win. With both western conference titans vying for the victory, as the Spurs 27-game win streak teetered on the line, San Antone was able to muster the strength to overcome the Golden State Warriors. Golden State went on its trademark run in the second quarter, trying to pull away, but San Antonio fought back, forced to endure a stronger storm in the final quarter, as the Warriors rallied to a 7-PT advantage with three minutes left to go. The defending champions recovered off Kawhi Leonard's and-1, and two bombs by Patty Mills. This thrilling showdown turned into a 1-PT war, shot for shot. Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson nailed clutch 3PTers to stick in it, but Iman Shumpert boldly returned the stroke. Next, Rudy Gay made two gutsy layups for the 109-108 lead. Shumpert's fierce defense on a layup by Thompson led to the shot of the game, as Mills pulled up for the would-be 3PT dagger, giving the Spurs a four point spre