By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-02-27 01:21:28
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。
休斯顿火箭队后卫杰伦·格林(Jalen Green)在2025年2月26日周三于丰田中心举行的NBA篮球比赛上半场扣篮。
休斯顿——在周三晚上以令人沮丧的118-106负于休斯顿火箭队之后，疲惫不堪、四面楚歌、再次被击败的马刺队离开了丰田中心，前往过去一周他们已经变得陌生的目的地。
家。
马刺队在圣安东尼奥的停留预计将是短暂的。球员们将在自己的床上睡一晚，然后在周五再次出发，参加周六在孟菲斯的比赛，以及一场基本上是灾难的牛仔竞技客场之旅的结束。
“回家会很好，”代理教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)说。“今晚的（赛后）讲话不长。”
马刺队没有太多机会让自己以一个高昂的姿态回家。他们在周三的比赛中没有领先一秒钟，而火箭队建立的领先优势一度高达28分，并且从未放松。
阿门·汤普森(Amen Thompson)带领火箭队以15投12中得到25分，杰伦·格林(Jalen Green)贡献了21分，狄龙·布鲁克斯(Dillon Brooks)得到19分。
马刺队由新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)和老将凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)各自的22分领衔。这对前者来说是一场反弹之战，对后者来说则是火热状态的延续。
凯尔登·约翰逊是马刺队中唯一一位在全明星周末后的五场比赛中每场都得分上双的球员。
“我只是在带来能量，”凯尔登·约翰逊说。“我感觉自从全明星赛以来，这就是我的重点——继续做凯尔登，带来能量。”
在马刺队在新奥尔良连续两场比赛中浪费两位数领先优势失利后，米奇·约翰逊在周三的比赛前表示，他相信他的球队已经准备好做出回应。
“我期望竞争力和团结力会存在，”他说。“会有一些逆境，当你面对像休斯顿这样的球队时，你应该预料到会有一段时期出现一波进攻或者一些身体对抗。我期待在那一刻的回应。”
从马刺队抵达丰田中心的那一刻起，逆境几乎就开始了。他们从未真正做出回应。
“他们得分太容易了，”德阿隆·福克斯(De’Aaron Fox)说，他的7分是他加入马刺队以来的最低得分。“我们在一开始没有任何抵抗。”
最终，火箭队轻松地赢得了一场胜利，使马刺队在他们的牛仔竞技之旅中战绩达到3胜8负，如果你算上在奥斯汀的两场技术上是主场比赛的1胜1负。
以下是周三这场失利（马刺队战绩降至24胜33负）的三个关键点：
- 马刺队首发阵容遭受重创
周三，马刺队的替补阵容表现出色，贡献了两名得分22分的球员。但马刺队的首发阵容却没有。
克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)、德阿隆·福克斯、德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)、哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)和俾斯麦·比永博(Bismack Biyombo)组成的球队首发五人总共得到27分——比阿门·汤普森为火箭队一个人得到的还少2分。
马刺队的首发球员中没有一人得分上双，瓦塞尔以9分最接近。
首发五人的实力差距是马刺队几乎从一开始就陷入两位数落后，并且从未恢复过来的一个重要原因。
- 索汉的缺席加剧了糟糕的局面
由于维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)赛季报销，查尔斯·贝西(Charles Bassey)又因膝盖问题重返伤病名单，马刺队在大多数比赛中都没有身高超过6英尺8英寸的轮换球员。
这让他们在身高上处于明显的劣势。
“篮板球将成为每场比赛的一个问题，这已经不是什么秘密了，”米奇·约翰逊在开赛前说。“这不仅仅是针对某些对手或更大的对决或某些球员。”
周三上半场，马刺队的前场深度再次受到打击，杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)头部受到撞击。出于预防原因，球队让他缺席了剩余的比赛。
这次损失很伤。
在马刺队人手短缺的情况下，索汉仍然是替补席上防守对方中锋的一个选择。
休斯顿在篮板球方面以60-41领先于马刺队，并抢下了20个进攻篮板。考虑到这一点，马刺队在二次进攻得分方面仅以18-15落后，这简直是一个小小的奇迹。
无论有没有索汉，马刺队都没有太多选择来成为一支更好的篮板球队。这又不是几个球员一夜之间就能长高四英寸。
“这将需要团队的努力，”米奇·约翰逊说。“俾斯麦·比永博不会进来解决问题，或者让桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利(Sandro Mamukelashvili)在俾斯麦旁边打球或者其他什么。由于我们现在的阵容以及谁可以上场，这必须是一场所有在场上的五名球员都参与抢篮板的比赛。”
对于马刺队来说，直到赛季结束，这都将是一场每晚都要面临的艰苦战斗。
- 卡斯尔享受某种程度的反弹
在所有留在激活名单上的马刺队球员中，卡斯尔度过了一个最忙碌的全明星周末。
卡斯尔没有休息和放松，而是去了旧金山，在扣篮大赛中获得第二名，并带领他的球队获得了新秀挑战赛的胜利，这反过来又让他的球队在周日与NBA全明星队对战。
因此，卡斯尔从全明星赛回来后并没有打出他最好的篮球，这也许并不令人惊讶。
在周三的比赛之前，这位新秀后卫在休息后的前四场比赛中场均得到7分。他刚从在新奥尔良的连续两场比赛中回来，在那两场比赛中，他14投2中，总共得到6分，并有5次失误。
在周二输给实力较弱的鹈鹕队的比赛中，卡斯尔实际上在12分钟后就被换下。
“斯蒂芬在过去两场或几场比赛中发生的事情并没有引起任何担忧，”米奇·约翰逊在周三的比赛前说。“我认为他会打很多时间，我认为他会打得很好。”
约翰逊基本上是正确的。
卡斯尔最终打出了他自2月7日在夏洛特以职业生涯最高的33分惨败以来的最高得分比赛。
尽管投篮命中率（22投9中）仍有改进空间，但卡斯尔还贡献了7个篮板、5次助攻和3次抢断。更重要的是，自从2月8日在奥兰多输球以来，他首次没有失误。
对于经历了一段艰难时期的卡斯尔来说，这是一个令人欣慰的反弹。
“我知道最近几场（比赛）我打得不像我自己，”卡斯尔说。“只是努力建立信心，回到我们在休息前的那种打法。”
Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson (1) dunks the ball over San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) shoots over his shoulder against San Antonio Spurs forwards Jeremy Sochan (10) and Keldon Johnson (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) shoots against San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets guard Nate Williams (19) looks over as San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley (14) makes a pass during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) steals the ball from Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (15) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, right, jokes with guard Jalen Green, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, left, talks with forward Amen Thompson during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, left, talks with forward Amen Thompson during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun, left, chest-bumps forward Amen Thompson as he heads to the bench toward the end of the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) shoots a 3-pointer past San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson (1) gets past San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson (1) shoots a layup during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets forward Jeff Green (32) shoots against San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets forward Jeff Green (32) shoots against San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
\Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) reacts after a basket by forward Jeff Green during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (12) is wrapped up by San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) looks up a he controls a loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) dunks the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) shoots over San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) and guard Stephon Castle (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) tips a rebound away from San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) fouls San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) gets a high-five from guard Jalen Green (4) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) gets past San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) gets past San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) gestures toward forward Dillon Brooks (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) reacts after making a basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) dunks the ball over San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) reacts after making a 3-pointer during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) reacts after making a 3-pointer during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) is fouled by San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) is fouled by San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) blocks out San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
点击查看原文：3 Takeaways as Amen Thompson makes Spurs say uncle
3 Takeaways as Amen Thompson makes Spurs say uncle
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Toyota Center, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Houston.
HOUSTON – Bedraggled, beleaguered and beaten again, the Spurs left the Toyota Center after Wednesday night’s uninspiring 118-106 loss against the Houston Rockets headed to a destination that has become unfamiliar to them over the past week.
Home.
The Spurs’ stopover in San Antonio is expected to be a short one. Players will spend one night in their own beds before leaving again Friday for Saturday’s game at Memphis and the end of a rodeo road trip that has been mostly a disaster.
“It will be nice to go home,” acting coach Mitch Johnson said. “It wasn’t a long (postgame) speech tonight.”
The Spurs did not have much of a chance to send themselves home on a high note. They did not lead for a single second of Wednesday’s game, while the Rockets build a lead that got as high as 28 points and never let up.
Amen Thompson led the Rockets with 25 points on 12-of-15 shooting, while Jalen Green added 21 and Dillon Brooks had 19.
The Spurs were led by 22 points apiece from rookie Stephon Castle and veteran Keldon Johnson. It was a bounce-back game from the former and a continuation of a hot streak for the latter.
Johnson is the only Spurs player to have scored in double figures in each of the team’s five games coming out of the All-Star break.
“I’ve just been bringing energy,” Keldon Johnson said. “I feel like since the All-Star break, that’s been my emphasis – continue to be Keldon and bring energy.”
After the Spurs lost consecutive games in New Orleans after squandering double-digit leads, Mitch Johnson said before Wednesday’s game he believed his team was poised to respond.
“I expect that the competitiveness and the togetherness to be there,” he said. “There will be some adversity and when you play a team like Houston, you should expect there’ll be a stretch where there’s a run being made or some physicality trying to be opposed. I’m looking forward to the response in that moment.”
The adversity began almost from the moment the Spurs got off the bus at the Toyota Center. They never really answered back.
“They were just scoring too easily,” said De’Aaron Fox, whose seven points were the fewest he’s scored since joining the Spurs. “We didn’t have any resistance to start the game.”
In the end, the Rockets strolled away with a win that sent the Spurs to 3-8 on their rodeo trip, if you count a 1-1 split of a pair of contests in Austin that were technically home games.
Here are three takeaways from Wednesday’s loss, which dropped the Spurs to 24-33:
1. Spurs’ starters take it on the chin
The Spurs’ bench held up its end of the bargain Wednesday with a pair of 22-point scorers. The Spurs’ starting unit did not.
The team’s first five of Chris Paul, De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes and Bismack Biyombo combined for 27 points – or, two fewer than Thompson did by himself for the Rockets.
None of the Spurs’ starters scored in double figures, with Vassell coming closest with nine points.
The starting five mismatch was a big reason the Spurs fell into a double digit hole almost off the bat Wednesday, and never recovered.
2. Sochan loss exacerbates bad situation
With Victor Wembanyama out for the season and Charles Bassey back on the injured list with a knee issue, the Spurs go into most games with no player taller than 6-foot-8 in the rotation.
This puts them at an obvious size disadvantage.
“It’s no secret the rebounding is going to be a thing every game,” Mitch Johnson said before tipoff. “It’s not just for certain opponents or bigger matchups or certain players.”
The Spurs’ frontcourt depth took another hit in the first half Wednesday, when Jeremy Sochan absorbed a shot to the head. The team held him out of the rest of the game for precautionary reasons.
The loss hurt.
As shorthanded as the Spurs are, Sochan remains an option to guard opposing centers coming off the bench.
Houston outrebounded the Spurs 60-41, and grabbed 20 offensive rebounds. With that in mind, it is something of a minor miracle the Spurs only lost the second-chance battle 18 points to 15.
With or without Sochan, the Spurs have little options for becoming a better rebounding team. It’s not as if a few players are going to sprout four inches overnight.
“It’s going to be a team effort,” Mitch Johnson said. “Bismack Biyombo is not going to come in and solve the problem, or playing Sandro (Mamukelashvili) next to Bismack or whatever it may be. It’s going to have to be a game rebound all five players on the court participating just by virtue of how we’re built right now and who’s available.”
For the Spurs, that is just going to be an uphill battle every night until the end of the season.
3. Castle enjoys bounce-back of sorts
Of all the Spurs remaining on the active list, Castle had the busiest All-Star break of all.
In lieu of rest and relaxation, Castle went to San Francisco to finish second in the slam-dunk contest, and lead his team to a Rising Stars victory, which in turn put his squad on the floor to face the NBA All-Stars on Sunday.
As a result, it is perhaps not a surprise Castle returned from the break not exactly playing his best basketball.
Heading into Wednesday’s game, the rookie guard had averaged seven points in his first four games back from the hiatus. He was coming off consecutive games in New Orleans in which he totaled six points on 2 of 14 shooting with five turnovers.
In Tuesday’s loss to the lowly Pelicans, Castle was effectively yanked after 12 minutes.
“There’s nothing that’s happened with Steph in the last two games or a few games that draws any concern,” Mitch Johnson said before Wednesday’s contest. “I think he’ll play a lot of minutes and I think he’ll play really good.”
Johnson was basically correct.
Castle ended with his highest-scoring game since exploding for a career-best 33 in a Feb. 7 defeat at Charlotte.
Though the shooting numbers (9 of 22) left something to be desired, Castle added seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. More importantly, he logged zero turnovers for the first time since a Feb. 8 loss at Orlando.
It was a welcome rebound for Castle after a rough patch.
“I know the last couple (games) I hadn’t been playing like myself,” Castle said. “Just trying to build confidence, get back the way we were playing before the break.”
By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News