By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-03-20 00:02:27
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。
圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利在2025年3月19日星期三在圣安东尼奥举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，扣篮庆祝，对阵纽约尼克斯队。(美联社照片/Darren Abate)
桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利(Sandro Mamukelashvili)周三在霜冻银行中心度过的夜晚，最好用他邀请的嘉宾——一位名叫威廉·乔纳森·德雷顿二世(William Jonathan Drayton Jr.)的66岁纽约客——那句标志性的口头禅来概括。
正如德雷顿，也就是更为人熟知的说唱艺名Flavor Flav可能会说的那样：“Yeaaaah boyyyeeee!”
在Flavor Flav于场边为他欢呼助威下，马穆克拉什维利异军突起，砍下职业生涯最高的34分，带领马刺队爆冷击败纽约尼克斯队，让在场不止一个人想知道俱乐部是否应该为这位替补前锋的朋友买几张季票。
“如果他能带来这样的效果，当然可以，”马刺代理教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)说。“我很乐意这么做。”
马穆克拉什维利在2021年的拉斯维加斯夏季联赛中以新秀的身份结识了Flavor Flav。两人一见如故，从此成为了朋友。
“我有时会和他进行FaceTime，”马穆克拉什维利说。
当Flavor Flav说他这周要来圣安东尼奥过生日时，马穆克拉什维利为他安排了尼克斯队替补席后面的门票，然后就开始了一场精彩的表演。
马穆克拉什维利14投13中。他的7次三分球全部命中。比赛结束时，控球后卫克里斯·保罗有意识地跑位，为他创造空位机会。
对于一个此前场均只有5分的球员来说，这已经很不错了。
尽情享受今晚吧，马穆
pic.twitter.com/TJ91QdC7A1
— 圣安东尼奥马刺 (@ spurs) 2025年3月20日
“我已经等待这一天很久了，”马穆克拉什维利说。“我祈祷并期待着它的到来。”
斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)为马刺的胜利贡献了22分，而保罗则贡献了12分和9次助攻。马刺的五名首发球员得分全部上双。
尽管卡尔-安东尼·唐斯(Karl-Anthony Towns)贡献了32分，尼克斯队也从落后28分的情况下奋力追赶，但马刺队最终还是顶住了压力。纽约队一度将分差缩小到个位数，但在马穆克拉什维利的统治面前，他们无能为力。
这位25岁的前锋在第一节和第三节都没有上场。他在第二节得到13分，开始进入状态。
马穆克拉什维利仅在第四节就得到了21分，这已经是他本赛季的最高得分。他在这一节8投8中，包括4个三分球，并在全场起立鼓掌的掌声中离开球场。
“我当时感觉灵魂出窍，”马穆克拉什维利说。“就像，这真的是在发生吗？”
对此，周三的贵宾可能会回答：“Yeaahhhh boyyeeee!”
以下是马穆克拉什维利生涯之夜的三个看点，这场胜利也帮助马刺将战绩提升到29胜39负：
- 每个人都爱马穆
马穆克拉什维利在圣安东尼奥的第二个赛季里，在马刺的轮换阵容中一直显得有些可有可无。最近他的上场时间有所增加，在周三的比赛之前，马穆克拉什维利已经连续三场比赛得分上双。
但没有任何人能预料到马穆克拉什维利对阵尼克斯时所展现出的惊艳表现。
这是他本赛季的最高得分，比之前的记录高出了20分。它也超过了他职业生涯最高的28分，那是他在2022年效力于密尔沃基雄鹿队时对阵克利夫兰骑士队时创下的。
在那场比赛中，马穆克拉什维利打了44分钟。而周三他只打了19分钟。
圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利（54号）在2025年3月19日星期三在圣安东尼奥举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，扣篮，对阵纽约尼克斯队中锋卡尔-安东尼·唐斯。(美联社照片/Darren Abate)
他成为了NBA历史上第一位——NBA历史！——在出场时间少于20分钟的情况下，得到至少34分的球员。
“这是一段起起落落的艰难旅程，我只是保持着随时待命的状态，”马穆克拉什维利说。“我明白了，拥有信念，祈祷并相信自己是最重要的。这就是我今天学到的。”
除了Flavor Flav，没有人比他的队友更替马穆克拉什维利感到高兴了，他们亲眼目睹了他脸上带着微笑，努力磨练自己的技艺，尽管他经历了一个赛季的DNP（未出场）。
很少有球员像马穆克拉什维利那样受到马刺更衣室队友的喜爱。如果他有一个情景喜剧——在周三之后，几乎一切都感觉有可能——那它会叫做《人人都爱马穆》。
从马穆周三的精彩比赛中可以看出一些端倪。
来自克里斯·保罗：“马穆是一位了不起的队友。他每天都来这里努力训练，并为队友欢呼。我认为这反映了队友们看到他打出这样一场职业生涯之夜时的感受。”
来自布雷克·韦斯利(Blake Wesley)：“我认识的每个人都说他们爱马穆。他是一个快乐的人，无论好坏。和他在一起感觉很好。”
来自凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)：“他是最好的队友。无论他今天过得怎么样，比赛对他来说如何，他总是支持我们。”
来自米奇·约翰逊，当时马刺的更衣室里正进行着一场喧闹的庆祝活动：“他每天都来工作。他是最稳定的人，特别是当你谈论他所扮演的角色时。这就是为什么你能听到一些队友的声音，以及他们对他的感受。”
- 韦斯利也发挥了作用
米奇·约翰逊特意提到了另一位很少被使用的角色球员的贡献。
“我以为我们应该谈论的是布雷克·韦斯利，”约翰逊说。“除非桑德罗打出了他今天的比赛。”
自从12月以来一直被排除在轮换阵容之外的韦斯利，在德阿隆·福克斯选择接受手指伤势的赛季报销手术后，再次成为马刺的第二阵容控球后卫。
韦斯利在周三的比赛中打出了他本赛季也许是最好的一场比赛。
他的6分与他的3次抢断，3次助攻和15分钟里不知疲倦的防守能量相比，只是锦上添花。
“每次我踏上球场，都是防守第一，帮助队友获得投篮机会，”韦斯利说。
对于本周早些时候刚满22岁的韦斯利来说，这可能是本赛季一个重要的收官之战。
虽然韦斯利下赛季的合同为470万美元，但他可能会在训练营中为自己的阵容位置而战。在本赛季最后阶段表现出色将有助于他的情况。
- 阵容调整为马刺的防守带来了回报
鉴于马刺的阵容结构，对于任何拥有一定身材的对手，他们都没有太好的解决办法。
对阵尼克斯时，米奇·约翰逊对马刺的首发阵容进行了一点调整，让6尺8寸的杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)担任首发中锋，而不是6尺9寸的比斯马克·比永博(Bismack Biyombo)。
马刺的教练组更倾向于让索汉对阵纽约的首发卡尔-安东尼·唐斯，而比永博则被认为是更适合对抗唐斯的替补米切尔·罗宾逊。
这是索汉自1月6日在芝加哥的比赛以来首次首发。
2025年3月19日星期三在圣安东尼奥举行的NBA篮球比赛上半场，纽约尼克斯队后卫米卡尔·布里奇斯(Mikal Bridges)（25号）运球突破圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉的防守。(美联社照片/Darren Abate)
两名球员似乎都应付得很吃力，当唐斯开场就拿下纽约的前9分时，这一举动似乎注定要失败。
然而，情况逐渐稳定下来，马刺队也迎来了几个月以来防守最好的一晚。
105分是马刺自1月13日在洛杉矶湖人队以126-102获胜以来，失分最少的一场比赛。尼克斯队的投篮命中率为42.4%，三分球命中率为29.7%。马刺队在篮板球方面以52-44获胜，同时也在内线得分（52-50）和二次进攻得分（18-17）方面占据优势。
马刺的小个阵容可能产生了这样的效果——无论是故意的还是无意的——让尼克斯队过于依赖唐斯。纽约的其他四名首发球员在上半场开始时20投0中，这也是马刺队能够建立起28分的领先优势的原因。
The San Antonio Spurs’ Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) passes to Jeremy Sochan (10) in the first half against the New York Knicks at Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) gestures to fans as he leaves the court with rapper Flavor Flav after an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Rapper Flavor Flav watches play during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Rapper Flavor Flav watches play during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Rapper Flavor Flav watches play during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) celebrates a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
New York Knicks players Josh Hart (3) and O.G. Anunoby, left, celebrate a basket during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Rapper Flavor Flav gestures to photographers during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
New York Knicks guard O.G. Anunoby, center, shoots against San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
New York Knicks guard O.G. Anunoby (8) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) looks to pass as he is defended by San Antonio Spurs’ Jeremy Sochan (10) and Julian Champagnie (30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
New York Knicks guard O.G. Anunoby (8) swats the ball away from San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) celebrates a three-point basket with Spurs center Bismack Biyombo during the first half of their NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau watches play during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) shoots against New York Knicks’ Miles McBride (2) and O.G. Anunoby (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) grabs the rebound ahead of New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs acting head coach Mitch Johnson disagrees with a referee’s call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
点击查看原文：3 takeaways as Spurs beat Knicks on big night for Mamukelashvili
3 takeaways as Spurs beat Knicks on big night for Mamukelashvili
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili celebrates a dunk during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Sandro Mamukelashvili’s night at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday can best be summed up by the screamed catchphrase of his invited guest, a 66-year-old New Yorker named William Jonathan Drayton Jr.
As Drayton — a rapper better known by his stage name Flavor Flav — might say: “Yeaaaah boyyyeeee!”
With Flav cheering him on courtside, Mamukelashvili exploded out of nowhere for a career-best 34 points to rocket the Spurs to an upset victory over the New York Knicks that had more than one person in the building wondering if the club should get their backup forward’s friend some season tickets.
“If that’s what he brings, sure,” Spurs acting coach Mitch Johnson said. “I’m happy to do that.”
Mamukelashvili met Flav at the Las Vegas Summer League as a rookie in 2021. The two hit it off and have been friends ever since.
“I FaceTime him sometimes,” Mamukelashvili said.
When Flav said he was coming to San Antonio for his birthday this week, Mamukelashvili hooked him up with tickets behind the Knicks bench, then proceeded to put on a show.
Mamukelashvili made 13 of 14 from the field. He made all seven of his 3-point tries. By the end of the game, point guard Chris Paul was consciously running actions to get him open looks.
Not bad for a player who came into the night averaging five points per game.
HAVE A NIGHT, MAMU
— San Antonio Spurs (@ spurs) March 20, 2025
“I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” Mamukelashvili said. “I manifested and prayed for it.”
Stephon Castle added 22 points to the Spurs’ effort, while Paul chipped in 12 points and nine assists. All five of the Spurs’ starters scored in double figures.
The Spurs survived 32 points from Karl-Anthony Towns, as well as a spirited Knicks comeback from 28 points down. New York closed within single digits but was no match for the zone Mamukelashvili occupied.
The 25-year-old forward did not play in either the first or the third quarters. He scored 13 points in the second quarter to get going.
The 21 points Mamukelashvili scored in the fourth quarter alone would have been his season high. He hit all eight of his shots in the frame, including four 3-pointers, and left the floor to a standing ovation.
“I had an out-of-body experience there,” Mamukelashvili said. “Like, is this really happening?”
To which Wednesday’s guest of honor might answer: “Yeaahhhh boyyeeee!”
Here are three takeaways from the night of Mamukelashvili’s life, which helped the Spurs improve to 29-39:
1. Everybody loves Mamu
Mamukelashvili had been something of an afterthought in the Spurs’ rotation throughout his second season in San Antonio. His playing time had picked up at bit recently, and Mamukelashvili had posted three consecutive double-digit scoring games heading into Wednesday.
Nothing could have prepared the basketball-watching public for the display Mamukelashvili unleashed against New York.
It was his season high by 20 points. It eclipsed his career high of 28, set in a 2022 game against Cleveland while playing with Milwaukee.
Mamukelashvili played 44 minutes in that game. He logged 19 on Wednesday.
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) dunks against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
He became the first player in NBA history — NBA history! — to record as many as 34 points while playing fewer than 20 minutes.
“It’s been hell of a ride up and down, just staying ready,” Mamukelashvili said. “I learned that having faith and praying and just believing in yourself is the main thing. That’s what I learned today.”
Nobody, besides maybe Flavor Flav, was happier for Mamukelashvili than his teammates who have seen him attack his craft with a smile on his face despite a season’s worth of DNPs.
Few players are as beloved by their teammates as Mamukelashvili is in the Spurs’ locker room. If he had a sitcom — and after Wednesday, almost anything feels possible — it would be called “Everybody Loves Mamu.”
A sampling of the reaction from Mamu’s big game Wednesday shows as much.
From Chris Paul: “Mamu is an amazing teammate. He comes in and works hard every day, and cheers guys on. I think that was reflective on the guys to see him have a career night like that.”
From Blake Wesley: “Everybody that I know says they love Mamu. He’s a happy person, good or bad. A good guy to be around.”
From Keldon Johnson: “He’s the best teammate. Regardless of how his day is going, how the game went for him, he’s always supporting us.”
From Mitch Johnson, as a raucous celebration raged from inside the Spurs’ locker room: “He comes to work every day. He’s the most consistent person, especially when you talk about the role he has. That’s why you can hear a little bit of the guys and their feeling for him.”
2. Wesley had an impact, too
Mitch Johnson made sure to bring up the contributions of another little-used role player.
“I thought Blake Wesley would’ve been the one we’d be talking about,” Johnson said. “Except Sandro had the game he had.”
Having languished out of the rotation since December, Wesley became the Spurs’ second-unit point guard again when De’Aaron Fox opted for season-ending surgery on his bum little finger.
Wesley turned in perhaps his best game of the season Wednesday.
His six points were gravy next to the three steals, three assists and relentless defensive energy in 15 minutes.
“Every time I step on the court, it’s defense first and help guys get shots,” Wesley said.
It could be an important closing kick to the season for Wesley, who turned 22 earlier in the week.
Though under contract for next season at $4.7 million, Wesley could find himself fighting for a roster spot in training camp. A strong finish to the current season would help his case.
3. Lineup switch paid off for Spurs’ defense
Given the construction of the Spurs’ roster, there are not a lot of good answers for an opponent that boasts any kind of size at all.
Against the Knicks, Mitch Johnson made a slight tweak to the Spurs’ starting lineup, using the 6-foot-8 Jeremy Sochan as an undersized starting center instead of the 6-9 Bismack Biyombo.
The Spurs’ staff preferred Sochan against New York starter Karl-Anthony Towns, with Biyombo deemed the better matchup for Towns’ backup, Mitchell Robinson.
It was Sochan’s first start since Jan. 6 at Chicago.
New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) drives against San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Both players appeared to have their hands full, and when Towns started off scoring the first nine New York points, the move seemed like a loser.
Things settled down, however, and the Spurs enjoyed their best defensive night in months.
The 105 points were the fewest the Spurs had allowed since a 126-102 victory at the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 13. The Knicks shot 42.4% from the field and 29.7% from 3-point range. The Spurs won the rebounding battle 52-44 while also winning points in the paint (52-50) and second-chance points (18-17).
The Spurs’ small units might have had the effect — intended or unintended — of making the Knicks too reliant on Towns. The four other New York starters began the game 0-of-20 in the first half, a reason the Spurs were able to construct a 28-point early lead.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News