By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-03-01 23:48:24
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。
2025年3月1日，在田纳西州孟菲斯市举行的NBA篮球比赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫德阿隆·福克斯(De’Aaron Fox)(4)在孟菲斯灰熊队前锋杰伦·威尔斯(Jaylen Wells)的防守下投篮。（美联社照片/布兰登·迪尔）
田纳西州孟菲斯市——周六在孟菲斯的关键时刻，克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)坐在场边，似乎无力改变比赛结果。
但他还是找到了办法。
“福克斯！”保罗在马刺一次糟糕的进攻后冲着德阿隆·福克斯喊道。“去拿球！”
保罗在场边的指导收到了成效，福克斯最终在比赛还剩2.6秒时命中了一记20英尺的制胜跳投，帮助马刺在联邦快递球馆以130-128的比分险胜灰熊。
福克斯在第四节独得9分，包括最后29.7秒的5分，帮助马刺结束了在他们牛仔客场之旅的最后一晚的残酷四连败。
“当我刚来这里时，他们告诉我做自己，”福克斯说道，自2020-21赛季以来，他在关键时刻的得分仅次于德玛尔·德罗赞(DeMar DeRozan)和特雷·杨(Trae Young)。“我甚至不会说自从我来到这里后，我的表现达到了我的标准，但他们仍然对我充满信心，让我出去完成任务。”
这场胜利是马刺过去18次与灰熊交手中取得的第二场胜利。
SWIPA. CLUTCH.
pic.twitter.com/Y39Ih0Vmfw
— San Antonio Spurs (@ spurs) March 2, 2025
和此前那次胜利一样——上赛季马刺最后一次前往联邦快递球馆以102-87获胜——明星后卫贾·莫兰特(Ja Morant)周六缺席了比赛。
另一位灰熊首发球员戴斯蒙德·贝恩(Desmond Bane)，以及关键轮换球员布兰登·克拉克(Brandon Clarke)也缺席了比赛。
不过没关系。自从维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)因血栓问题赛季报销以来，马刺的日子一直不好过，所以他们会以任何方式接受一场胜利。
福克斯的制胜球挽救了一个晚上，马刺在第一节之后就一直领先，上半场最多领先22分，中场休息时领先19分。
这帮助马刺克服了小贾伦·杰克逊(Jaren Jackson Jr.)的赛季新高42分，他在杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)的防守下投进了一记疯狂的转身压哨三分球，在比赛还剩23.4秒时扳平了比分。
“那是很好的防守，”索汉说，“但他很努力。有时候肌肉记忆会让那些（东西）投进。”
这只是为福克斯扮演马刺英雄的角色搭建了舞台。
把一部分功劳归于坐在板凳席上的保罗，他在关键时刻确保球在福克斯的手中。
“我知道他在比赛最后时刻的能力，”保罗说。“我防守过福克斯。我和他交手过。我知道那是什么感觉。”
以下是周六这场胜利的三大看点，这场胜利将马刺在牛仔客场之旅中的战绩提高到4胜8负，其中包括在奥斯汀的两场“主场”比赛。
- 波波维奇提供了动力
在11月初中风离开球队后，格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)教练在周四于圣安东尼奥举行的一次充满感情的会议上首次以小组形式与球员们进行了交流。
“这在某种程度上激励着我们继续前进，因为他的康复很艰难，而且他干得很棒，”索汉说。“我们应该在球场上做同样的事情。”
索汉这样总结了波波维奇讲话中关于篮球的部分：“努力打球，团结一致，抢好（脏话）篮板。”
想必波波维奇的训话中没有关于下半场不要挥霍两位数领先优势的内容。
马刺在过去四场比赛中第三次出现了这种情况。不过，与本周早些时候在新奥尔良连续遭遇惨败不同，马刺坚持赢下了这场比赛。
“最重要的是，赢得胜利是好事，”保罗说。“当然，我们仍然有很多可以做得更好的地方，但我们一直在说，你想赢球，同时也要学习。”
39岁的保罗去年夏天与马刺队签下了一年的合同，部分原因是为了在波波维奇手下打球。他是周四见到这位76岁的名人堂教练后深受感动的球员之一。
“他掌控全场的方式，是独一无二的，”保罗说。“我只是可能看到了不同的视角。他一直是我的全明星教练，和他在季后赛系列赛中交手过。对我来说，见到他、和他交谈都很好。”
- 本赛季的最佳新秀就在联邦快递球馆吗？
当费城队的贾里德·麦凯恩(Jared McCain)在12月因半月板撕裂而赛季报销时，本已不稳定的最佳新秀之争变得更加激烈。
一个有把握的说法是，今年的最佳新秀就在周六的孟菲斯。
联盟得分最高的新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)被广泛认为是接替维克托·文班亚马成为马刺背靠背最佳新秀的领跑者。
卡斯尔在对阵灰熊的比赛中再次闪耀，得到24分。这是他连续第二场得到20+的得分，也是自1月15日以来第二高的得分。
代理教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)说：“我认为他只是回到了那个我们一直喜欢的、毫不掩饰的积极进取、永不放弃的孩子。”
2025年3月1日，在田纳西州孟菲斯市举行的NBA篮球比赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(5)在孟菲斯灰熊队前锋拉马尔·史蒂文斯(Lamar Stevens)的防守下控球。（美联社照片/布兰登·迪尔）
在权衡今年的最佳新秀时，不要忽视孟菲斯的两名一年级球星。
扎克·埃迪(Zach Edey)，这位灰熊队以第九顺位选中的7英尺4英寸的庞然大物，周六得到17分和9个篮板，7次投篮全部命中。
还有杰伦·威尔斯，一位为孟菲斯带来惊喜的二轮秀。在灰熊队用第39顺位选中这位前华盛顿州立大学的杰出球员之前，每支球队都至少错过他一次。
威尔斯周六首发并贡献了18分，他曾与马刺队进行过一次选秀试训。
“当他在我们的球馆时，我喜欢他，”约翰逊说。“他在投篮、打法简单方面做了一些事情——我这是在赞美他——他知道自己的角色和自己的定位。”
如果卡斯尔现在在最佳新秀的争夺中有一个强劲的挑战者，那么威尔斯可能就是。
- 没有哪位马刺球员比福克斯更渴望结束客场之旅
在联邦快递球馆马刺更衣室的白板上写着一个手写的标志，表明了球队渴望结束牛仔客场之旅的心情。
上面写着：“10:35，巴士启动。”
没有谁比福克斯更乐于回到圣安东尼奥了。
当福克斯在2月3日被交易到马刺队时，他已经和国王队连续在外漂泊了13天。他在为期一个月的牛仔客场之旅的第二场比赛中加入了马刺队。
2025年3月1日，在田纳西州孟菲斯市举行的NBA篮球比赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫德阿隆·福克斯(4)在孟菲斯灰熊队后卫卢克·肯纳德(Luke Kennard)(10)的防守下控球。（美联社照片/布兰登·迪尔）
“我已经一个半月没有打过主场比赛了，”福克斯说。“所以能够在主场球迷面前比赛肯定会很棒。”
福克斯从未在霜冻银行中心的主队更衣室里待过。周日将是他的第一次。
事实上，这位27岁的后卫直到今年夏天都一直占据着萨克拉门托金州一号中心相同的更衣柜，当时哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)被交易到马刺队，福克斯才接替了他的旧位置。
“我实际上已经在同一个地方待了7年半，同一个更衣柜，”福克斯说。“我很高兴开启新的征程，我们希望继续建设它。”
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) handles the ball against San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (0) defends against San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) drives ahead of Memphis Grizzlies guard John Konchar (46) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie, left, handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies center Jay Huff in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) reacts in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) drives against Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, center, looks on from the bench in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama (7) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) shoots between Memphis Grizzlies forwards Santi Aldama, right, and Lamar Stevens, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, right, dunks against Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., center, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr., left, drives against San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) controls the ball against San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins, center, reacts in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) drives against San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox (4) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells, left, shoots ahead of San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) shoots against San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) and guard Stephon Castle (5) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) drives against San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) handles the ball against San Antonio Spurs forwards Keldon Johnson (0) and Jeremy Sochan, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) handles the ball against San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson, center, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama (7) handles the ball ahead of San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey, left, handles the ball against San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard (10) shoots against San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Lamar Stevens (8) handles the ball against San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox (4) plays in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul shoots the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey plays in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) shoots the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, center, talks with teammates in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard (10) handles the ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant reacts in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) plays in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
点击查看原文：3 takeaways as De'Aaron Fox's shot lifts Spurs over Grizzlies
3 takeaways as De’Aaron Fox’s shot lifts Spurs over Grizzlies
San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox (4) shoots against Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — With the game on the line Saturday in Memphis, Chris Paul was on the sideline seemingly with no way to affect the outcome.
He found a way anyhow.
“Fox!” Paul hollered at De’Aaron Fox after one ill-fated Spurs possession. “Go get the ball!”
Paul’s sideline coaching paid off, as Fox eventually delivered a game-winning 20-foot jumper with 2.6 seconds to go that delivered a much-needed 130-128 victory at the FedEx Forum.
Fox scored nine of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, including five in the final 29.7 seconds, to help the Spurs break a brutal four-game losing skid on the final night of their rodeo trip.
“When I first got here, they told me to be myself,” said Fox, who since 2020-21 has scored more crunch-time points than anyone in the NBA besides DeMar DeRozan and Trae Young. “I wouldn’t even say I’ve played up to my standard since I’ve been here, but they still have that confidence in me to go out there and do that.”
The victory was the Spurs’ second against Memphis in the past 18 meetings.
SWIPA. CLUTCH.
— San Antonio Spurs (@ spurs) March 2, 2025
Like the previous win in that stretch — a 102-87 triumph in the Spurs’ final trip to the FedEx Forum last season — star guard Ja Morant was out Saturday.
So was another Memphis starter, Desmond Bane, as well as a key rotation player in Brandon Clarke.
No matter. As tough as the Spurs have had it since Victor Wembanyama’s season ended due to a blood clot issue, they will take a win any way it comes.
Fox’s game-winner salvaged a night in which the Spurs did not trail after the first quarter, and led by as many as 22 points in the first half and 19 at intermission.
It helped the Spurs overcome a season-high 42 points from Jaren Jackson Jr., whose wild, turnaround 3-pointer banked in over Jeremy Sochan knotted the score with 23.4 seconds to go.
“That was good defense,” Sochan said, “but he works hard. Sometimes it’s muscle memory that that (stuff) goes in.”
All it did was set the stage for Fox to play hero for the Spurs.
Give Paul, on the bench for the Spurs’ stretch run, a smidge of credit for making sure the ball was in Fox’s hands at the end.
“I know what he’s capable of at the end of games,” Paul said. “I done guarded Fox. I done played against him. I know what that’s like.”
Here are three takeaways from Saturday’s win, which raised the Spurs’ record on the rodeo trip to 4-8, including a split of a pair of “home” games in Austin:
1. Popovich provided motivation
Away from the team after suffering a stroke in early November, coach Gregg Popovich addressed players as group for the first time in an emotional meeting Thursday in San Antonio.
“It kind of motivates us to keep going because his rehab’s tough, and he’s kicking ass,” Sochan said. “We are meant to be doing the same thing on the court.”
Sochan summed up the basketball portion of Popovich’s remarks this way: “Play hard, play together, rebound the (expletive) ball.”
Presumably there was nothing in Popovich’s preaching about not blowing double-digit leads in the second half.
The Spurs did just that for the third time in the past four games. Unlike consecutive disasters in New Orleans earlier in the week, however, the Spurs hung on to win this game.
“It’s good to win, first and foremost,” Paul said. “Definitely still a lot of things that we could do better, but we’ve been saying all year long you want to win and learn at the same time.”
The 39-year-old Paul signed a one-year deal with the Spurs last summer in part to play for Popovich. He was among the players touched to see the 76-year-old Hall of Fame coach Thursday.
“The way he commands a room, there’s nothing like it,” Paul said. “I just got a different perspective probably. He has been my All-Star coach, played playoff series against him. For me, it was just good to see him, it was good to talk to him.”
2. Was this season’s Rookie of the Year on the floor at FedEx Forum?
What was already a fluid Rookie of the Year race was flung wide open when Philadelphia’s Jared McCain was lost to a season to a torn meniscus in December.
A safe bet says this year’s winner was in the building Saturday in Memphis.
The league’s highest-scoring rookie, Stephon Castle is largely considered the frontrunner to join Victor Wembanyama as back-to-back Spurs winners.
Castle shone again against the Grizzlies with 24 points. It was his second straight 20-point outing and second-best scoring game since Jan. 15.
“I think he is just back to being that unapologetically aggressive, relentless kid that we have come to love,” acting coach Mitch Johnson said.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward Lamar Stevens in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
When it comes to handicapping this year’s Rookie of the Year, don’t sleep on a pair of Memphis first-year standouts.
Zach Edey, the 7-4 behemoth the Grizzlies drafted ninth overall, had 17 points and nine rebounds Saturday, making all seven of his field goal attempts.
Then there is Jaylen Wells, a second-round pick who has been a revelation for Memphis. Every team passed on the former Washington State standout at least once before the Grizzlies snagged him with the 39th pick.
Wells, who started Saturday and chipped in 18 points, had one of his draft workouts with the Spurs.
“I liked him when we had him in our gym,” Johnson said. “There were some things he did in terms of shooting, playing simple — and I mean that as a compliment — knowing his role and who he was.”
If Castle has a stiff challenger right now for Rookie of the Year honors, Wells might be it.
3. No Spur is more eager to get off the road than Fox
A handwritten sign on the grease board in the Spurs’ locker room at the FedEx Forum spoke to the team’s eagerness to get the rodeo trip over and done.
“10:35, bus wheels moving,” it read.
Nobody was happier to be headed back to San Antonio than Fox.
At the time Fox was traded to the Spurs on Feb. 3, he had been on the road with the Kings for 13 consecutive days. He joined the Spurs on the second game of a month-long rodeo road trip.
San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox (4) handles the ball ahead of Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard (10) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
“I haven’t played a home game in a month and a half,” Fox said. “So it is definitely going to great to be able to play in front of a home crowd.”
Fox has never been in the home locker room at the Frost Bank Center. Sunday will be his first time.
In fact, the 27-year-old guard occupied the same locker at the Golden1 Center in Sacramento until this summer, when Harrison Barnes was traded to the Spurs and Fox assumed his old digs.
“I’ve literally been in one spot for 7 ½ years, one locker period,” Fox said. “I’m excited for the new start, and we want to continue to build this.”
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News