By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-01-09 00:46:18
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
密尔沃基，威斯康星州 - 1月8日：2025年1月8日，在威斯康星州密尔沃基的费哲论坛球馆，密尔沃基雄鹿队的扬尼斯·阿德托昆博(Giannis Antetokounmpo) 34号在第二节防守圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama) 1号。
密尔沃基讯——周三晚，密尔沃基雄鹿队主教练道格·里弗斯(Doc Rivers)来到费哲论坛球馆，期待看到一场特别的比赛。
就像在奇幻世界里观看珍奇动物展览一样特别。
维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)对阵扬尼斯·阿德托昆博(Giannis Antetokounmpo)，这样的对决本身就极具吸引力。
“这场比赛真的是两位独角兽之间的对决，”里弗斯说道。
正如预期的那样，在雄鹿队以121-105大胜马刺队的比赛中，其中一位独角兽表现非凡。
而另一位则出人意料地表现平平。
这一回合的胜利属于字母哥，他拿下25分、16个篮板和8次助攻，帮助雄鹿队送给马刺队三连败。
文班亚马只出手10次，得到10分，这是他本赛季第二低的得分，也是自10月30日对阵俄克拉荷马城雷霆队以来的最差表现。他还贡献了10个篮板和3次盖帽。
“总的来说，他们比我们强，”文班说道。“今晚他们是更优秀的篮球运动员。我们必须提升自己。”
字母哥得到的帮助比文班更多。
达米安·利拉德(Damian Lillard)以26分领衔雄鹿队，布鲁克·洛佩斯(Brook Lopez)贡献22分和5记三分球。
克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)得到18分，而凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)则替补出场，以24分和11个篮板的两双数据领衔马刺队。
雄鹿队在第二节拉开比分，以34-19赢下该节，带着21分的领先优势进入半场。
马刺队在第三节将分差缩小到8分，但未能更进一步。在马刺队将比分追至91-81后，雄鹿队在第四节初就终结了比赛悬念。
雄鹿队以利拉德的上篮、两次罚球和加里·特伦特二世(Gary Trent Jr.)的三分球做出回应，将雄鹿队的领先优势扩大到17分。
“今晚我们被打得落花流水，”马刺队代理主教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)说道。“我们今年还没有被打得这么惨过。”
以下是这场失利的三点观察，这场失利使马刺队的战绩跌至18胜19负：
- 马刺队的进攻令人作呕
雄鹿队的防守值得称赞。他们用马刺队无法匹敌的身体对抗进行防守。
他们阻止了文班亚马到达他习惯的进攻位置，这就是为什么他几乎无法出手投篮。
在某种程度上，比赛的转折点出现在第二节4分14秒的时间段内，马刺队一分未得。
在这段时间里，马刺队9投0中，而雄鹿队则打出一波15-0的进攻高潮，控制了比赛。
失误并不是问题所在。马刺队根本无法创造足够好的投篮机会来保持竞争力。
“我认为他们的身体对抗从一开始就影响了我们，”约翰逊说道。“我认为我们在第一节投进了一些球，勉强保持住了比分，但我们的进攻很慢。我们在我们想要接球的位置接到了球，但我们的时机不对，他们的身体对抗决定了这一切，或者说，我们的不足决定了这一切。”
周三的比赛证明了雄鹿队的防守实力，他们破坏了马刺队的所有进攻尝试。
“我认为他们现在是一支更成熟的球队，”文班说道。“我的意思是他们看起来更好。自赛季初以来，他们一直表现出色，我们也变得更好了。而且我认为他们肯定认真对待我们，他们全力以赴。”
- 马刺队主教练的斯坦福重聚
周三对约翰逊来说是一个特别的夜晚，这是他第一次以代理主教练的身份对阵前大学队友布鲁克·洛佩斯。
洛佩斯和约翰逊在2006年至2008年期间在斯坦福大学一起打了两个赛季。
36岁的洛佩斯比约翰逊小两岁，在兰德里·菲尔兹(Landry Fields)和洛佩斯的孪生兄弟罗宾(Robin)退役后，他是那些斯坦福球队中唯一 remaining 留在NBA的球员。
“当你看到他的职业生涯如此长久，然后回想起将近20年前，我们还是一起打球的小伙子时，这感觉很酷，”约翰逊说道。
洛佩斯在2008年被新泽西篮网队以第10顺位选中，并在NBA征战了17个赛季。
曾经主要在低位得分且防守并不出名的洛佩斯，如今已经蜕变成一名空间型五号位三分射手和 perennial 多年来的年度最佳防守球员候选人。
密尔沃基，威斯康星州 - 1月8日：2025年1月8日，在威斯康星州密尔沃基的费哲论坛球馆，圣安东尼奥马刺队的凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson) 0号在第四节对阵密尔沃基雄鹿队的布鲁克·洛佩斯(Brook Lopez) 11号运球。
他已经成为密尔沃基不可或缺的一员，过去七个赛季他都在这里效力。他是雄鹿队周三获胜的关键。
“当你看到他已经适应了这个新角色，并成为这支球队的重要组成部分时，我一点也不感到惊讶，”约翰逊说道。“当你看看联盟，看看和他同一届新秀以及同龄人的球员，那些家伙都已经不在联盟了，而他仍在继续前进。”
- 马刺队需要瓦塞尔恢复状态
对于德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)来说，这又是一个糟糕的投篮之夜，他19投4中，得到11分。
当文班亚马和他一起在场时，马刺队指望瓦塞尔成为球队的第二得分点，并在这位大个子坐在替补席上的几分钟内扛起球队的进攻大旗。
过去几周，瓦塞尔的投篮手感一直很挣扎，在过去的九场比赛中，他只有一场投篮命中率超过50%。
他以67投24中的低迷状态开始了1月份的比赛。
“德文是一位非常出色的射手和得分手，”约翰逊说道。“我认为这是一个风水轮流转的事情。你只需要等待它发生。”
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks the ball against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against Harrison Barnes #40 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Harrison Barnes #40 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks defends Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Tre Jones #33 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks defends Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks defends Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks fouls Keldon Johnson #0 of the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Keldon Johnson #0 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball against Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Tre Jones #33 of the San Antonio Spurs lays up a shot against Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs blocks a shot by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Bobby Portis #9 of the Milwaukee Bucks lays up a shot against Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts against the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Interim head coach Mitch Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs reacts against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
点击查看原文：3 takeaways as Giannis outduels Wemby
3 takeaways as Giannis outduels Wemby
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks defends Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers arrived at the Fiserv Forum on Wednesday night expecting to see something special.
Like, a zoo exhibit in a fantasy land special.
Victor Wembanyama vs. Giannis Antetokunmpo has that kind of cachet.
“You really have two unicorns playing in this game,” Rivers said.
One of the unicorns was expectedly extraordinary in Milwaukee’s 121-105 thumping of the Spurs.
The other was unexpectedly average.
Give this round to Antetokounmpo, whose 25 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists helped send the Spurs to a third straight defeat.
Wembanyama took only 10 shots on his way to 10 points, his second-lowest scoring outing of the season and worst since Oct. 30 against Oklahoma City. He added 10 rebounds and three blocks.
“All around, they were better than us,” Wembanyama said. “They were better basketball players tonight. We have to step up.”
Antetokounmpo had more help than Wembanyama got.
Damian Lillard led Milwaukee with 26 points, while Brook Lopez chipped in 22 points and five 3-pointers.
Chris Paul added 18 points, while Keldon Johnson led the team with an 24-point, 11-rebound double-double off the bench.
The Bucks blew the game open in the second quarter, winning the frame 34-19 to take a 21-point lead into half.
The Spurs closed within eight points in the third quarter but could claw no closer. The Bucks put the game to bed early in the fourth after the Spurs pulled to within 91-81.
Milwaukee responded with a Lillard layup, a pair of Lillard free throws and a Gary Trent Jr. 3-pointer to push the Bucks’ lead to 17.
“Tonight we got our butt kicked,” Spurs acting coach Mitch Johnson said. “We haven’t got our butt kicked a lot this year.”
Here are three takeaways from Wednesday’s defeat, which dropped the Spurs to 18-19:
1. The Spurs’ offense stunk
Give Milwaukee credit. The Bucks defended the Spurs with a physicality they could not match.
They kept Wembanyama from his spots, which is why he could barely get shots off.
In a way, the game turned during a 4:14 stretch of the second quarter in which the Spurs went scoreless.
The Spurs went 0-for-9 over that span, while the Bucks rattled off a 15-0 run to take control of the game.
Turnovers were not an issue. The Spurs simply could not generate enough good looks to stay in the game.
“I thought their physicality got to us even early,” Johnson said. “I think we made a few shots just to kind of hang around in that first quarter, but our offense was slow. We were getting catches in the spots we want to get catches. Our timing was off and their physicality dictated a lot of that or our lack of whatever.”
Wednesday was a testament to the Bucks’ defense, which wrecked whatever the Spurs tried to do.
“I think they’re a more accomplished team now,” Wembanyama said. “I mean they look better. They’ve been looking fantastic since after the beginning of season, and we got better, too. And I think they took us seriously for sure, and they went all out.”
2. A Stanford reunion for Spurs’ coach
Wednesday marked a special night for Johnson, his first to serve as acting coach against former college teammate Brook Lopez.
Lopez and Johnson played together at Stanford for two seasons between 2006 and 2008.
Two years Johnson’s junior at 36, Lopez is the only member of those Stanford teams to remain in the NBA, after Landry Fields and Lopez’ twin brother, Robin, have retired.
“It’s just something cool to see when you see his longevity and then you think back to 20 years ago almost now, when we were just young punks playing basketball together,” Johnson said.
Drafted 10th overall by the New Jersey Nets in 2008, Lopez evolved to last 17 seasons in the NBA.
Once a predominantly low-block scorer not exactly renowned for his defense, Lopez morphed into a stretch-5 3-point shooter and a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Keldon Johnson #0 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball against Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 08, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He has become an indispensable piece for Milwaukee, where he has played the past seven seasons. He was key to the Bucks win on Wednesday.
“I’m not surprised at all when you see how he’s settled into this new role and become such a big part of this team,” Johnson said. “When you look around the league and who he came in with his draft class and his age group, those guys are not around and he’s still rolling along.”
3. Spurs need Vassell to return to form
It was another rough shooting night for Devin Vassell, who finished 4 of 19 from the field on his way to 11 points.
The Spurs count on Vassell to be a No. 2 scoring option when Wembanyama is on the floor with him, and to carry the offense for some of the minutes the big man is on the bench.
Vassell has struggled with his shooting touch for the past few weeks, making more than half his shots in only once in the past nine games.
He has started January in a 24-for-67 funk.
“Devin is a heck of a shooter and a scorer,” Johnson said. “I think it’s one of those deals where the worm will turn. You’re just waiting for it.”
By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News