By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-03-05 00:03:13
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4日，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥的 Frost Bank 中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队的 维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama)在马刺以 127-113 战胜布鲁克林篮网队后拥抱了他的队友 德文·瓦塞尔 (Devin Vassell)。瓦塞尔拿下了职业生涯最高的 37 分，赛季最高的 10 个篮板和赛季最高的 5 次助攻。
周二第三节末段，马刺后卫瓦塞尔在 Frost Bank 中心球场一端抢断了一次传球，然后一路狂奔到另一端，完成了一次快攻，并命中了一记快速转换三分球，在很多情况下，这会被认为是不明智的选择。
但在瓦塞尔看来，别无选择。
“我必须这么做，”瓦塞尔说。
以瓦塞尔当时的火热状态，不投就是对篮球的犯罪。
瓦塞尔命中了那记三分球——以及另外七个——最终砍下职业生涯最高的 37 分，帮助马刺在下半场轻松击败布鲁克林篮网，最终以 127-113 获胜。
“必须保持自信，这是最重要的事情，”瓦塞尔说，他之前的职业生涯最高得分是上赛季对阵洛杉矶湖人时创下的 36 分。“每当我开始投丢球时，我可能会陷入自我怀疑。这就是比赛的本质，但我必须保持自信。”
周二，自信心在瓦塞尔身上体现得淋漓尽致。他全场 19 投 14 中，三分球 11 投 8 中。
瓦塞尔在第三节砍下 17 分，马刺队将半场 62-57 的微弱优势扩大到本节最高的 25 分。
在这场可以说是他五年 NBA 职业生涯中表现最好的一场比赛中，瓦塞尔还贡献了赛季最高的 10 个篮板，创造了职业生涯新高的三分球命中数，追平了职业生涯最高的 4 次抢断，并且——为了锦上添花——还增加了 5 次助攻和 1 次盖帽。
“最酷的事情是，重新观看比赛，看看他所做的一切对胜利的影响，而这些甚至没有出现在数据统计中，”马刺代理教练米奇·约翰逊说。“当你做这些事情时，篮球会找到你，数据统计会反映出来，这有时令人惊讶。”
马刺队的比斯马克·比永博贡献了 13 分和 14 个篮板， 斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle)得到 17 分， 德阿隆·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox)得到 15 分。
篮网队方面，卡梅隆·托马斯得到 24 分，领衔全队。
这场胜利使马刺队的总战绩提高到 26 胜 34 负，而篮网队则跌至 21 胜 40 负。
以下是周二这场胜利的三个要点，这是马刺队自 1 月 31 日以 144-118 击败密尔沃基雄鹿队以来赢得的最悬殊的一场胜利：
- 瓦塞尔战胜了内心的挣扎
过去 18 个月对于瓦塞尔来说就像坐过山车一样。
2023 年 10 月，瓦塞尔签下了一份为期五年，价值 1.46 亿美元的续约合同，当时这使他成为马刺队薪水最高的球员。在本赛季马刺队在二月份交易得到福克斯之前，他一直保持着这一头衔。
瓦塞尔上赛季场均得到职业生涯最高的 19.5 分，出战 68 场比赛，然后在最后两周因脚部问题而停赛。这个问题需要在休赛期进行手术，反过来又推迟了瓦塞尔本赛季的恢复。
从那以后，他的状态一直有些挣扎。
2025年3月4日，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥的 Frost Bank 中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫德文·瓦塞尔 (24) 在第一节对阵布鲁克林篮网队的比赛中跳投。马刺队以 127-113 击败了篮网队。
“我的意思是，这就是事实，”瓦塞尔说。“我认为最终每个人都会对它发表自己的看法。我们拿到很多钱来这里打球，所以我只需要出来，每次踏上球场都要充满侵略性和自信。”
瓦塞尔本赛季的各项数据都有所下降：15.4 分，2.8 次助攻，5.3 个篮板。
周二的比赛展现了瓦塞尔专注且手感火热时的状态。它似乎激发了他比赛的方方面面。
“这是一场心理游戏，”瓦塞尔说。“有些比赛我可能无法出手六次，而且不够积极。每场比赛都会有所不同，但保持积极性，我认为这是每个人都在寻找的。”
- 助攻连胜值得庆祝
马刺队周二送出了 37 次助攻，这是一个值得注意的高数字。
这标志着马刺队连续第 200 场比赛至少送出 20 次助攻，这是 NBA 历史上最长的连胜纪录，并且可能会永久保持下去。
“我们可能并不总是重视或赋予太多力量的许多统计数据和其他性质的东西，”约翰逊说。“但我认为这是一个非常酷的事情。”
为什么？
“这是我们重视的东西，”约翰逊说。“我们重视传球，我们重视一起打球。”
2025年3月4日，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥的 Frost Bank 中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫德阿隆·福克斯 (4) 在第四节将球传给圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋朱利安·尚帕尼 (30)。马刺队以 127-113 击败了篮网队。
这也是马刺队每个赛季从训练营第一天就开始强调的事情。“好到更好”——如果他的队友有更好的投篮机会，球员应该放弃好的投篮机会——这已经成为马刺队十多年来的座右铭。
“这就是我们所谈论的一切——马刺文化，马刺的方式，好到更好，”瓦塞尔说。“如果你不这样做，你会显得格格不入。”
这种打球方式与 NBA 现役助攻王出奇地契合。
“这就是我整个职业生涯的打球方式，”克里斯·保罗说，他周二与福克斯并列球队最高的 7 次助攻。“这表明了文化。这表明我们每晚都在分享球。”
- 比永博意味着生意
比永博用他在马刺队制服组中的最佳表现庆祝了他周一签署的新的剩余赛季合同。
13 分是他自 2023 年 11 月 18 日以来获得的最高分，当时他在孟菲斯灰熊队效力时对阵马刺队获得了 14 分。
14 个篮板是他自 2023 年 11 月 10 日对阵犹他爵士队时抢下 15 个篮板以来获得的最多篮板。
这是比永博在马刺队出战九场比赛中的第三次两双，并且出现在球队可以使用某人——实际上是任何人——来提供稳定的内线表现的时候。
2025年3月4日，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥的 Frost Bank 中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋比斯马克·比永博 (18) 在第四节被布鲁克林篮网队中锋尼克·克拉克斯顿 (33) 防守时将球传给圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫德文·瓦塞尔 (24)。马刺队以 127-113 击败了篮网队。
“他曾在多支球队效力，我敢打赌他的角色非常相似，”约翰逊说。“我认为可能在他职业生涯的大部分时间里被要求做的事情都是相似的。因此，从这个意义上讲，他是这个项目的新人，但可能并没有超出他之前被要求做的事情的范围。”
比永博不会以任何方式、形状或形式成为文班亚马。
然而，鉴于马刺队在前场缺乏大个子球员，比永博简直就是天赐之物。
保罗在 2021 年至 2023 年的两个赛季中在菲尼克斯太阳队与比永博一起打过部分赛季，并在上个月俱乐部寻找紧急大个子球员时向马刺队总经理 布莱恩·莱特 (Brian Wright)推荐了他。
“当莱特说我们有机会得到他时，我说，‘好吧，我有点偏见，’”保罗说。“所以是的，我爱比兹。”
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) is all smiles during an interview following the Spurs’ 127-113 win over the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Vassell had a career-high 37 points, a season-high 10 rebounds and a season-high-matching 5 assists.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) embraces his teammate guard Devin Vassell (24) following the Spurs’ 127-113 win over the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Vassell had a career-high 37 points, a season-high 10 rebounds and a season-high-matching 5 assists.
San Antonio Spurs acting head coach Mitch Johnson talks to San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) during the fourth quarter at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 127-113.
San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama react to a dunk by San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the fourth quarter at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 127-113.
San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox (4) and Brooklyn Nets guard D’Angelo Russell (1) fight for the ball during the fourth quarter at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 127-113.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to another three-pointer by his teammate Devin Vassell (24) during the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 127-113.
Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe (20) blocks a shot from San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) during the third quarter at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 127-113.
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) passes the ball out to San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 127-113.
San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) fouls Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) during the third quarter at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 127-113.
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) reacts after making another third quarter three-pointer against the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 127-113.
San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) reacts after tipping the ball into the net over Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) during the second quarter at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 127-113.
San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) tips the ball into the net over Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) during the second quarter at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 127-113.
San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox (4) shoots over Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) during the second quarter at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 127-113.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) react to a dunk made by San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Vassell had a career-high 37 points in the Spurs 127-113 victory over the Nets.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) rubs his right shoulder as he talks to his teammates during the Spurs’ game against the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama talk as they watch their team take on the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama waves to someone in the crowd as he sits between his teammate Keldon Johnson (0), from left, and assistant coaches Mike Noyes and Matt Nielsen during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama waves to someone in the crowd as he sits between his teammate Keldon Johnson (0) and assistant coach Mike Noyes during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley (14), from left, guard Devin Vassell (24), guard Chris Paul (3), guard De’Aaron Fox (4) and other Spurs players hype themselves up before taking on the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 127-113.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) prays before the start of the NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas.
Gloria Schilling, left, 77, and her friend Vivan Cantu watch the Spurs warm up before the NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Schilling was in attendance for the Gonzaba Foundation’s Silver Club Senior night, which was created to celebrate Spurs fans and residents age 60 and up.
点击查看原文：3 Takeaways as Vassell has the game of his life vs. Nets
3 Takeaways as Vassell has the game of his life vs. Nets
San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama embraces his teammate Devin Vassell following the Spurs’ 127-113 win over the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Vassell had a career-high 37 points, a season-high 10 rebounds and a season-high-matching 5 assists.
Late in the third quarter Tuesday, Spurs guard Devin Vassell picked off a pass on one end of the Frost Bank Center court, scampered the other way on a one-man fast break and pulled-up for a quick transition 3-pointer that in many other cases would have been considered ill-advised.
The way Vassell saw it, there was no other choice.
“I had to for sure,” Vassell said.
With the way Vassell had been firing away, it would have been a crime against basketball not to.
Vassell made that 3-pointer – and seven others – on his way to a career-best 37 points, helping the Spurs make short work of the Brooklyn Nets in the second half en route to a 127-113 victory.
“Got to stay confident, that’s the biggest thing,” said Vassell, whose previous career high was 36 points set last season against the Los Angeles Lakers. “Whenever I start missing shots, I might get in my own head. That’s just the nature of the game, but I got to stay confident.”
Confidence was in high supply for Vassell on Tuesday. He finished 14 of 19 from the floor and 8 of 11 from 3-point range.
Vassell scored 17 points in the third quarter, as the Spurs pushed what had been a narrow 62-57 edge at half to as many as 25 points in the frame.
In what was arguably the best game of his five-season NBA career, Vassell also produced a season-best 10 rebounds, set a new career high in made 3-pointers, equaled a career best with four steals and – for good measure – added five assists and a block.
“The cool thing about it is, go rewatch the game and see all the things he did to impact winning that didn’t even touch the box score,” Spurs acting coach Mitch Johnson said. “It is amazing sometimes when you do those things, but the basketball will find you and the box score will reflect it.”
The Spurs got a 13-point, 14-rebound effort from Bismack Biyombo, 17 points from Stephon Castle and 15 from De’Aaron Fox.
Brooklyn was led by 24 points from Cam Thomas.
The victory improved the Spurs to 26-34 overall, while the Nets dropped to 21-40.
Here are three takeaways from Tuesday’s win, the Spurs’ most lopsided since blasting Milwaukee 144-118 on Jan. 31:
1. Vassell won the mental battle with himself
The past 18 months have been something of a roller coaster for Vassell.
In October 2023, Vassell signed a five-year, $146 million contract extension that, at the time, made him the Spurs’ highest-paid player. He retained that designation this season until the Spurs dealt for Fox in February.
Vassell averaged a career-best 19.5 points in 68 games last season before being shut down for the final two weeks with a foot issue. That issue required surgery over the offseason, which in turn set back Vassell’s ramp-up for this season.
His campaign has been something of a struggle ever since.
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) takes a jump shot during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 127-113.
“I mean it is what it is,” Vassell said. “I think everybody’s going to have their opinions at the end of the day of what it is. We get paid a lot of money to come out here and play the game, and so I just got to come out here and be aggressive and be confident every time I step out on the court.”
Vassell’s numbers are down across the board this season: 15.4 points, 2.8 assists, 5.3 rebounds.
Tuesday provided of what Vassell can be when he is locked in and the shots are falling. It seems to invigorate every facet of his game.
“It’s a mental game,” Vassell said. “There’s games where I can’t get six shots and not be aggressive. Every game is going to be different, but just being aggressive, I think that’s what everybody’s looking for.”
2. Assist streak something to celebrate
The Spurs handed out 37 assists Tuesday, a high number notable in and of itself.
It marked the 200th consecutive game the Spurs have posted at least 20 assists, the longest streak in NBA history and one that might last for perpetuity.
“A lot of the statistics and things of that nature that we probably don’t always value or give too much power to,” Johnson said. “But I think that’s one that’s pretty cool.”
Why?
“It’s something that we value,” Johnson said. “We value the pass, we value playing together.”
San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox (4) passes the ball out to San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) during the fourth quarter at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 127-113.
It’s also something the Spurs preach from the first day of training camp each season. “Good to great” – the idea a player should pass up a good shot if his teammate has a great one – has been the mantra in Spurs Land for more than a decade.
“That’s all we talk about – Spurs culture, the Spurs Way, good to great,” Vassell said. “You stick out like a sore thumb if you don’t.”
It is a manner of playing that unsurprisingly sits well with the NBA’s active assists leader.
“That’s the way I played my entire career,” said Chris Paul, who matched Fox for the team lead with seven assists Tuesday. “It just shows the culture. It shows night in and night out we’re sharing the ball.”
3. Biz means business
Biyombo celebrated the new rest-of-season contract he signed Monday with his best performance in a Spurs uniform.
The 13 points were his most since Nov. 18, 2023, when he put up 14 – against the Spurs – while playing for Memphis.
The 14 rebounds were his most since pulling down 15 against Utah on Nov. 10, 2023.
It was Biyombo’s third double-double in nine appearances with the Spurs, and it came at a time in which the team could use someone – anyone, really – to provide a sturdy inside presence.
San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) passes the ball to San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) while being guarded by Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) during the fourth quarter at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 127-113.
“He’s been on multiple teams, and I bet his role has been pretty similar,” Johnson said. “I think probably what’s been asked of him for a lot of his career has been similar. So in that sense, he’s new in this program, but probably not too outside the realm of what he’s been asked to do before.”
Biyombo isn’t going to be Wembanyama, in any way shape or form.
Given the Spurs’ dearth of big bodies in the frontcourt, however, Biyombo has been something of a godsend.
Paul played part of a season in Phoenix with Biyombo for two seasons from 2021 to 2023 and vouched for him with Spurs general manager Brian Wright when the club was seeking an emergency big man last month.
“When B. Wright said we had a chance to get him, I said, ‘Well, I’m a little biased,’ ” Paul said. “So yeah, I love Biz.”
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News
