By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-03-23 21:19:28
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。
圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫布雷克·韦斯利(Blake Wesley)(14)在多伦多进行的NBA比赛上半场中扣篮，对手是多伦多猛龙队，时间是2025年3月23日星期日。（Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP）
多伦多——马刺队前锋德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)在对阵多伦多猛龙队的比赛中表现出色——字面意义上的。
瓦塞尔仅出战三节就得到25分，马刺队在周日晚以123-89大胜人手不足的猛龙队，取得了自11月份赛季最高的四连胜以来的首次三连胜。
这场大胜包括了一个让瓦塞尔和他的队友们开怀大笑的回合。在第三节末，马刺队领先28分时，瓦塞尔被多伦多队的R.J.巴雷特(R.J. Barrett)的一次失误传球击中面部，引发了一次三打一的快攻，最终瓦塞尔助攻凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)完成空接扣篮。
在猛龙队在这次进攻后叫了暂停之后，瓦塞尔回到了板凳席，队友们善意地调侃他用自己的脸为马刺队贡献了一次抢断，马刺队本场比赛共有15次抢断，距离赛季最高纪录仅差两次。
“是的，伙计，我觉得不知为何，过去几场比赛我总是被打到脸，”瓦塞尔说。“但这没关系。今晚大家表现都很棒。这是一场伟大的团队胜利。我们很需要这样的胜利。这是我们的三连胜，我们希望保持住这种势头。”
朱利安·尚帕尼(Julian Champagnie)为马刺队贡献了20分，其中包括4个三分球。在取得过去七场比赛中的五场胜利后，马刺队的战绩为31胜39负。斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)得到15分。
斯科蒂·巴恩斯(Scottie Barnes)为猛龙队贡献了22分。猛龙队遭遇四连败，战绩下滑至24胜47负。布兰登·英格拉姆(Brandon Ingram)和格雷迪·迪克(Gradey Dick)因伤缺阵，而雅各布·珀尔特尔(Jakob Poeltl)和伊曼纽尔·奎克利(Immanuel Quickly)则轮休。
在奏美国国歌时，球迷们发出了嘘声，以抗议总统唐纳德·特朗普对加拿大征收关税并威胁其主权。
瓦塞尔和大多数其他主力球员都没有在第四节上场。在马刺队将领先优势扩大到38分（本场比赛最大领先优势）后，代理马刺队教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)在该节早早地清空了板凳席。
马刺队打出了本赛季得分最高的首节之一，他们将多伦多的10次失误转化为18分，以36-16领先。马刺队迫使对方出现8次失误，克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)、布雷克·韦斯利和尚帕尼各贡献两次抢断。
代理马刺队教练米奇·约翰逊表示，第一节的“防守积极性”为比赛定下了基调，马刺队以一波30-9的攻势结束了第一节。
“这是我们联系最紧密的一次，也是我们从板凳席上听到的交流最多的一次，”米奇·约翰逊说。“队员们都在努力应对各种战术、掩护以及场上发生的情况。这需要场上的五名球员一起解决问题，我认为今晚他们做得非常出色。”
马刺队在上半场以62-40领先，第二节最多领先27分。上半场结束时，马刺队利用13次失误得到了20分。
马刺队最终利用多伦多的22次失误得到了30分。
以下是从这场三连客首战中的三个收获，接下来他们将在周二对阵底特律活塞队，周四对阵克利夫兰骑士队：
1、瓦塞尔状态火热
三月对于这位五年级前锋来说是辉煌的。
瓦塞尔本赛季第20次得到20+，高效地14投11中，其中三分球6投3中。
这是他连续第13场得分上双的比赛，包括7场20+。在来到多伦多之前，他三月份场均得到18.8分，三分球命中率39.1%，场均出手7.7次。
自从维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)因血栓自2月20日起赛季报销，以及德埃隆·福克斯(De’Aaron Fox)在赛季末接受手指手术后，马刺队已经转向瓦塞尔来填补得分空白，而他做出了出色的回应。
“这很有趣，我们经历了（赛季中期）那段警报和担忧他可能失去魔力的时期，而现在他正在一球接一球地命中，”米奇·约翰逊说。“但他也影响了比赛的胜利，并做了很多没有在数据统计中体现的事情——在防守端轮转换位，点拨篮板球，制造干扰。他的轮转非常敏锐，他的补防也更加稳定。
“看到这些家伙进步，并且能够从中获得回报，真的很有趣。而他现在就是那个得到了一切的家伙，他应得的。”
尚帕尼表示，周日的比赛可能是瓦塞尔本赛季的最佳比赛，考虑到他本月早些时候对阵布鲁克林篮网队时得到职业生涯最高的37分，这可是一个很高的赞扬。
在对阵猛龙队的30分钟里，瓦塞尔还得到了6个篮板、3次助攻、2次抢断和1次盖帽。
“不仅仅是得分，还有对防守细节的关注，”尚帕尼说。“他全身心投入。”
2、韦斯利在防守端产生高能量的影响
这位三年级后卫继续在赛季末努力证明自己的价值，此前他大部分时间都在板凳席上度过。
在创赛季新高的26分钟里，韦斯利得到8分和4次助攻。
但是，再次强调，他在防守端的表现最为突出。他完成了3次抢断，追平了他上周战胜纽约尼克斯队时创下的赛季最高纪录。
“那是他的强项，”尚帕尼说。“当谈到篮球时，他会为此脱帽致敬。他是一个防守怪物。无论比赛对他来说如何，无论他打两分钟、三分钟还是三十分钟，他都会在防守端全力以赴。他会让你提速。他会努力比赛。所以，是的，他在这方面做得非常好。”
米奇·约翰逊表示，韦斯利的防守强度已经蔓延到整个替补席。
“替补席上的队员们真的已经接受了这一点，”教练说。“比如凯尔登今晚一个球都没投进（10投2中得到7分），但他（在防守端）表现得非常出色。
“当一个集体中的个人都接受这种类型的篮球时，每个人都觉得自己参与其中。每个人都想投进球。但是当你拥有这种类型的团队成功（在防守端）以及这种类型的联系时，即使你没有投进球，你也会觉得自己参与其中，为团队做出贡献，这是一件非常有趣的事情。”
3、猛龙队教练永远感谢波波维奇的帮助
多伦多猛龙队主教练达科·拉贾科维奇(Darko Rajakovic)在2004年至2012年的10个夏天里，曾担任马刺队的顾问/球探和夏季联赛助理教练。在那段时间里，他与格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)建立了亦师亦友的关系。
当拉贾科维奇在周日的比赛前被问及这位NBA历史上胜场最多的教练时，这种关系在他的脑海中挥之不去。
“谢谢你提到他的名字，”拉贾科维奇对记者说。“祝他一切都好。祝他早日康复。我们也希望很快就能在篮球场上看到他。篮球界想念他。我很想念他，想念和他比赛。”
虽然波波维奇在11月初因轻微中风后是否会重返下赛季执教马刺队尚不确定，但像拉贾科维奇这样的这位名人堂教练的弟子们正在寻找任何机会来谈论他对他们的职业生涯和生活产生的影响。
“波波维奇教练，你可以写10本书关于他，说实话，其中大部分内容不会是关于战术，而是关于他是如何影响人们，如何感动人们，如何改变人们职业生涯的轨迹，”拉贾科维奇说。“他绝对是独一无二的，伙计。我非常幸运能够有机会与他合作，并观察他如何在巅峰时期执教他的球队。正如我所说，我们可以写10本书关于他。”
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) drives the net against Toronto Raptors center Colin Castleton (11) during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) plays the ball against Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) during the second half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, left, defends against San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) during the second half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) passes the ball while under pressure from San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul, front left, during the second half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) blocks the vision of San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) during the second half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) drives the ball against Toronto Raptors center Colin Castleton, left, forward Garrett Temple (17) and forward Jonathan Mogbo, right, during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell, front left, lays up the ball against Toronto Raptors center Orlando Robinson (21) and forward Jamison Battle (77) during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) defends against San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, left, during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, left, plays the ball against Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead (23) during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell, left, looks to shoo against Toronto Raptors guard Ochai Agbaji, right, during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors guard Ochai Agbaji prepares for an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
点击查看原文：Devin Vassell has 25 points in Spurs' 123-89 rout of Raptors
Devin Vassell has 25 points in Spurs’ 123-89 rout of Raptors
San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley (14) dunks against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
TORONTO – Spurs forward Devin Vassell put his best face forward against the Toronto Raptors – literally.
Vassel had 25 points in only three quarters of work, and the Spurs routed the undermanned Raptors 123-89 on Sunday night for their first three-game winning streak since they won a season-high four in a row in November.
The romp included a play that left Vassell and his teammates laughing out loud. Late in the third quarter with the Spurs leading by 28, Vassell got hit in the face by an errant pass thrown by Toronto’s R.J. Barrett that triggered a three-on-one fast break that ended with Vassell setting up Keldon Johnson for a lob dunk.
After Toronto called a timeout following the play, Vassell returned to the bench, where he got some good-natured ribbing about his mug’s contribution to one of the Spurs’ 15 steals, which was two shy of matching their season high.
“Yeah, man, I feel like for some reason I’ve just been getting hit in the face these past couple of games,” Vassell said. “But it’s all good. Great performance tonight from everybody. Huge team win. We need that. It’s our third win in a row and we want to keep this thing going.”
Julian Champagnie added 20 points powered by four 3-pointers for the Spurs, who are 31-39 after winning five of their last seven. Stephon Castle finished with 15 points.
Scottie Barnes had 22 points for the Raptors, who have lost four in a row to drop to 24-47 and were without Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick because of injuries and Jakob Poeltl and Immanuel Quickly due to rest.
Fans booed during the singing of the U.S. national anthem in response to President Donald Trump slapping tariffs on Canada and threatening its sovereignty.
Vassell and most of the other regulars did not play in the fourth quarter. Acting Spurs coach Mitch Johnson emptied his bench early in the period after the Spurs pushed their lead to 38 points, their largest cushion of the game.
The Spurs put together one of their highest-scoring first quarters of the season when they raced to a 36-16 lead after converting 10 Toronto turnovers into 18 points. The Spurs forced eight of those turnovers, with Chris Paul, Blake Wesley and Champagnie each recording two steals.
Acting Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said the “defensive activity” in the first period, which ended with the Spurs on a 30-9 run, set the tone.
“It was the most connected we’ve been, the most communication we’ve heard from the bench,” Mitch Johnson said. “Just guys navigating actions, screens, things that were happening on the court. It has to take those five guys on the court to figure things out, and I thought tonight they were at absolutely tremendous.”
The Spurs led 62-40 at halftime after leading by as many as 27 in the second quarter. By the break, the Spurs had scored 20 points off of 13 turnovers.
The Spurs finished with 30 points off of 22 Toronto turnovers.
Here are three takeaways from the first game of a three-game trip that includes outings at Detroit on Tuesday and at Cleveland on Thursday:
1, Vassell on an impressive roll.
March has been marvelous for the fifth-year forward.
In notching his 20th game this season with 20 or more points, Vassell hit an efficient 11 of 14 from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range.
It was his 13th game in a row with 10 or more points, including seven outings of 20-plus in that stretch. He arrived in Toronto averaging 18.8 points and shooting 39.1% on 7.7 attempts from beyond the arc in March.
With Victor Wembanyama out for the season since Feb. 20 with a blood clot and De’Aaron Fox sidelined after season-ending finger surgery, the Spurs have turned to Vassell to pick up the scoring slack, and he’s responded with a flourish.
“It’s funny, we went through that (mid-season) stretch where there were a lot of alarms and concerns that maybe he had lost his powers, and now he’s making shot after shot,” Mitch Johnson said. "But he’s also impacting winning and doing a lot of the things that don’t show up on the box score – shifting on defense, tipping rebounds out, deflections. His rotations have been sharp, his closeouts have been more consistent.
“It’s really fun to see these guys improve and to be able to get rewarded with it at times. And he’s the guy right now who’s getting a little bit of all of it, and he deserves it.”
Champagnie said Sunday’s game might have been Vassell’s best of the season, high praise considering he had a career-best 37 points against Brooklyn earlier this month.
In 30 minutes against the Raptors, Vassell also had six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.
“It’s not just the scoring, but the attention to detail defensively,” Champagnie said. “He was locked in.”
2, Wesley making a high-energy impact defensively.
The third-year guard continued his late push to prove his worth after sitting on the bench most of the year.
In a season-high 26 minutes, Wesley had eight points and four assists.
But, again, it was what he did on the defensive end that stood out the most. He finished with three steals, matching the season high he set last week in the win over New York.
“That’s his thing,” Champagnie said. "That’s where he tips his hat when it comes to basketball. He’s a defensive monster. No matter how the game’s going for him, whether he plays two minutes, three minutes or 30 minutes, he’s going to go (all out) on that end of the floor. He’s going to speed you up. He’s going to play hard. So, yeah, he’s doing really good with that stuff.
Mitch Johnson indicated Wesley’s defensive intensity has spread throughout the bench.
“The guys off the bench have really bought into it,” the coach said. "Like Keldon couldn’t make a shot tonight (seven points on 2 of 10) and he was terrific (defensively).
“When you have individuals in a collective group buy into that type of basketball, everybody feels like they’re participating. Everybody wants to make the shot. But when you have that type of team success (defensively) and that type of connectivity, even when you don’t make the shots, you feel like you’re participating, adding to the group, and it’s a really fun thing to be a part of.”
3, Raptors coach forever grateful for Popovich’s help
Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic spent 10 summers from 2004 through 2012 service as a consultant/scout and Summer League assistant coach for the Spurs. During that time, he had a mentor and friend in Gregg Popovich.
The relationship was very much on Rajakovic’s mind when he was asked about the NBA’s all-time winningest coach before Sunday’s game.
“Thank you bring up his name,” Rajakovic said to a reporter. “Wish him all the best. Wish him quick recovery. We also hope to see him back on the basketball court very soon. Basketball misses him. I miss him a lot, miss playing against him.”
While it’s uncertain whether Popovich will return to coach the Spurs next season after suffering a mild stroke in early November, the Hall of Famer’s proteges like Rajakovic look for any chance to talk about the impact he has had on their careers and lives.
“Coach Pop, you can write 10 books about him and, to be honest with you, the majority of that is not going to be about X and Os but about how he affected people, how he touched people, how he changed the trajectories of people’s careers,” Rajakovic said. “He’s definitely unique, man. I’m extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to work with him and to observe the way he coached his team at the peak.As I said, we can write 10 books about him.”
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News