By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-04-03 00:39:46
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哈里森·巴恩斯在2025年4月2日星期三在丹佛举行的NBA篮球比赛上半场对阵丹佛掘金队的比赛中投中三分球后做出手势。(美联社图片/David Zalubowski)
丹佛 — 朱利安·尚帕尼很好地总结了周三晚上第四节发生的事情，让马刺队能够带着113-106战胜丹佛掘金队的胜利离开百事中心，这是一场疲惫不堪的球队之间的对决。
“两个老家伙站了出来，老叔和老叔，” 尚帕尼谈到克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)，39岁，和哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)，32岁，马刺队的两名老将，球员们喜欢这样称呼他们。“他们在关键时刻表现出色。”
巴恩斯得到20分和8个篮板，保罗贡献17分和8次助攻，马刺队结束了本赛季最糟糕的五连败。
掘金队在第二节落后20分的情况下，在比赛还剩10分31秒时，凭借贾伦·皮克特的上篮以90-88领先。两分钟后，比分持平为95分，随后保罗在30秒内连续命中两记三分球，帮助马刺队以101-95领先，奠定胜局。
“在我们比赛之前，我们说，‘让我们出去，找到赢球的方法’，” 保罗说。
在保罗命中关键三分球的三分钟后，轮到巴恩斯贡献关键一球。在马刺队以105-101领先时，他以一记背后运球开始加速，上篮得分。
“我对自己感到惊讶，” 巴恩斯说。
这并没有让保罗感到惊讶。
“我知道哈里森·巴恩斯(HB)的实力，” 保罗说。“他也知道。像这样的比赛，你可以更多地展示你所能做的事情。”
2025年4月2日星期三在丹佛举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫克里斯·保罗(中)在丹佛掘金队后卫拉塞尔·威斯布鲁克(左)和前锋亨特·泰森之间抢到松散球。(美联社图片/David Zalubowski)
马刺队新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)差点拿到职业生涯首次三双，最终得到15分，职业生涯最高的15个篮板和9次助攻。桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利得到16分和10个篮板，这是他本赛季的第二次两双。
总共有七名球员为马刺队得分上双，马刺队战绩提升至32胜44负，比过去两个赛季的胜场数都多10场。布雷克·韦斯利得到赛季最高的15分，尚帕尼得到14分，马拉基·布兰纳姆贡献13分。
“这是一场非常棒的团队胜利，” 马刺队代理教练米奇·约翰逊说。“我们有一些球员站了出来，他们一直在努力并等待机会，今晚所有九名球员都打出了非常精彩的时刻。”
马刺队在文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)（血栓）和达龙·福克斯(De’Aaron Fox)（手指手术）缺阵的情况下完成了本赛季的比赛，在周二晚上以116-105主场输给奥兰多后，这是他们五晚中的第四场比赛。更糟糕的是，他们失去了德文·瓦塞尔（左脚踝扭伤）、索汉(Jeremy Sochan)（腰部痉挛）和凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)（腰部紧张）。
拉塞尔·威斯布鲁克以30分、11个篮板、6次助攻和3次抢断领衔掘金队（47胜30负）。皮克特在他的第二次职业生涯首发中，以17分、11个篮板和10次助攻获得了他的第一次三双。
尽管丹佛正在为西部季后赛席位而战，但掘金队教练迈克尔·马龙让他的所有五名首发都休息了，包括MVP候选人尼古拉·约基奇，他在周二以140-139输给明尼苏达的比赛中打了53分钟，得到职业生涯最高的61分。
克里斯蒂安·布劳恩一直在处理脚痛的问题，并且在对阵森林狼队的比赛中也打了53分钟，阿隆·戈登（小腿）、贾马尔·穆雷（腿筋）和小迈克尔·波特(Michael Porter Jr.)，他正在处理家庭事务，并且错过了周二晚上的比赛，与约基奇一起穿着便装。
以下是马刺队将客场战绩提高到12胜24负的这场胜利的三个要点：
- 保罗非常渴望这场胜利。
在第四节末段，这位未来的名人堂控球后卫忘记了他只有6英尺高，为了争抢篮板，撞上了6英尺11英寸、265磅重的德安德烈·乔丹。
这次撞击使保罗倒地，巴恩斯为他的老队友鼓掌。
“他现在都40岁了，还在努力跑进去跳起来抢篮板，” 巴恩斯说。“我不知道他在想什么，但他想赢，所以他拼尽全力。”
除了迫切希望结束马刺队的五连败之外，保罗还面对着他的一些最亲密的朋友。
CP THREEEE x2
pic.twitter.com/mxuMdcxJe5
— San Antonio Spurs (@ spurs) April 3, 2025
“和那些家伙比赛总是很有趣，” 保罗说。“伙计，DJ和Russ真的就像我的兄弟一样。我们在这个联盟里待了这么久。你会遇到很多只是作为队友或对手的人，但这两个家伙，我和他们非常亲近。还有迈克尔·马龙也是。我们非常亲近。”
保罗和马龙多年前在新奥尔良结下了深厚的友谊，当时保罗是一位年轻的球星，而马龙是一位冉冉升起的助理教练。
当马龙看到马刺队有几名球员缺席时，他知道他们仍然会保持高水平的竞争力，因为他们仍然拥有保罗。
“克里斯是一位名人堂球员，永远不要低估一位名人堂球员和像克里斯那样竞争的家伙，” 马龙说。“克里斯是我见过的最好的竞争者和领袖之一。”
- 两位教练都照顾了他们的球员。
约翰逊说，他们决定让瓦塞尔休息，因为他在受伤的脚踝上打了一段时间后，“有点过于进入危险区域了”。
“这是考虑到大局，保持他的健康，所以我们做出了这个决定，” 约翰逊说。
由于马刺队几乎已经退出了附加赛的争夺，让这位五年级前锋休息一下实际上并没有什么大不了的。但对于马龙来说，这完全是另一种情况，尤其是当涉及到让约基奇休息时。
过去，这位三次获得MVP的球员一直努力在马龙想让他休息的夜晚上场。但教练说，这一次没有讨论的余地，他在周二的比赛结束后告诉这位一直在忍受肘部和脚踝伤势的超级球星，他不会参加对阵马刺队的比赛。
“我看了数据表，看到他打了很长时间，所以这是一场背靠背的比赛，我只是在比赛结束后走到他面前说，‘嘿，你明天休息’，” 马龙说。“这不会有任何讨论。因为尼古拉会带伤上阵，有时你必须成为教练。他理解了。”
- 乔丹·麦克劳克林投进了他作为马刺球员以来最关键的一球。
自从2月3日从萨克拉门托通过三方重磅交易将福克斯带到圣安东尼奥以来，这位控球后卫很少有上场时间。但这并没有阻止他在第四节投进一记关键三分球，帮助马刺队在丹佛队取得比赛首次领先之后重新取得领先。
“本能就会发挥作用，” 麦克劳克林谈到毫不犹豫地从远处投篮时说。“我热爱这项运动。我喜欢比赛中出现的各种情况和事情。落后三分，领先三分，无论如何，都要保持侵略性。我觉得我空位了，并且自信地踩进去并投进了它。”
2025年4月2日星期三在丹佛举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，丹佛掘金队后卫贾伦·皮克特（右）试图传球，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫乔丹·麦克劳克林进行防守。(美联社图片/David Zalubowski)
这是麦克劳克林本场比赛的唯一进球，而且是在其他替补球员要么不在轮换阵容中，要么只是在边缘徘徊的情况下取得的。
“出去玩得开心，” 麦克劳克林谈到替补球员的方法时说。“我们知道在到达球馆后只有九个人了，所以每个人都会有机会和上场的机会。即使我们没有上场，我们在幕后也都很努力，所以这对我们来说是一个很好的机会去上场打篮球。”
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes, right, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center DeAndre Jordan, left, blocks a shot by San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley, second from left, drives to the basket as, from left, Denver Nuggets center DeAndre Jordan, forward Hunter Tyson and guard Jalen Pickett defend in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, left, throws a pass over Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center DeAndre Jordan, left, ties up San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes, center, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets forwards Zeke Nnaji, left, and Spencer Jones defend in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Hunter Tyson, front, and San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo pursue a loose ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes, center, passes the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Vlatko Cancar, left, and guard Russell Westbrook defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Dario Saric, right, passes the ball as San Antonio Spurs forwards Sandro Mamukelashvili, left, and Julian Champagnie defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili pulls in a rebound against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, left, is fouled as he drives to the basket by San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Hunter Tyson, center, passes the ball as San Antonio Spurs forwards Sandro Mamukelashvili, left, and Julian Champagnie defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, left, collides with San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji, front, drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, right, drives past San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, left, drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Hunter Tyson, right, drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett, right, drives past San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, left, passes the ball over San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle dunks the ball for a basket against the Denver Nuggets in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett, left, struggles to control the ball as San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul, left, confer with interim head coach Mitch Johnson in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, front, collects a loose ball as San Antonio Spurs guards Blake Wesley, center, and Chris Paul defend in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Vlatko Cancar, front, passes the ball as San Antonio Spurs guard Malaki Branham defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley, right, drives past Denver Nuggets guard Trey Alexander in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, center back, dunks the ball between Denver Nuggets guard Trey Alexander, back left, and center DeAndre Jordan as San Antonio forward Sandro Mamukelashvili, front, looks on in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett, left, looks to pass the ball as San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center DeAndre Jordan, right, pulls in a rebound as San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, left, passes the ball as San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett, front left, drives past San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie, back left, and guard Stephon Castle in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes, right, drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets forward Hunter Tyson defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
点击查看原文：3 takeaways as Harrison Barnes leads Spurs to win over Nuggets
3 takeaways as Harrison Barnes leads Spurs to win over Nuggets
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes gestures after hitting a 3-point shot against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
DENVER — Julian Champagnie summed up nicely what happened in the fourth quarter Wednesday night to allow the Spurs to leave Ball Arena with a 113-106 win over the Denver Nuggets in a clash of depleted, tired teams.
“Two old guys coming through, Unc and Unc,” Champagnie said of Chris Paul, 39, and Harrison Barnes, 32, the Spurs two aging uncles, as the players like to call them. “They came up big down the stretch.”
Barnes had 20 points and eight rebounds, Paul added 17 points and eight assists and the Spurs snapped their season-worst five-game losing streak.
Denver came from 20 points down in the second quarter to take a 90-88 lead on Jalen Pickett’s driving layup with 10:31 left. Two minutes later, the score was knotted at 95 before Paul put the Spurs ahead for good by sinking consecutive 3-pointers in a 30-second span for a 101-95 advantage.
"Before we played, we said, ‘Let’s go out here and find a way to win,’ " Paul said.
Three minutes after Paul’s big buckets from deep, it was Barnes’ turn to deliver a clutch basket. With the Spurs leading 105-101, he scored on a driving layup that began with him picking up a head of steam with a behind-the-back dribble.
“I surprised myself with that one,” Barnes said.
It didn’t surprise Paul.
“I know that about HB,” Paul said. “He knows it, too. Games like this, you get to showcase a little bit more of the things you’re capable of.”
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul, center, collects a loose ball between Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, left, and forward Hunter Tyson in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Spurs rookie Stephon Castle nearly notched his first career triple-double, finishing with 15 points, a career-best 15 rebounds and nine assists. Sandro Mamukelashvili finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.
In all, seven players scored in double figures for the Spurs, who improved to 32-44 to give them 10 more wins than they had in each of the last two seasons. Blake Wesley had a season-high 15 points, Champagnie finished with 14 and Malaki Branham chipped in 13.
“It was a really good team win,” acting Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “We had guys that stepped up that had been working and waiting for their opportunity, and all nine guys had moments tonight with really big plays.”
The Spurs, who are finishing the season without stars Victor Wembanyama (blood clot) and De’Aaron Fox (finger surgery) played their fourth game in five nights after Tuesday night’s 116-105 home loss to Orlando. Making matters worse, they were without Devin Vassell (left ankle sprain). Jeremy Sochan (lower back spasms) and Keldon Johnson (tight lower back).
Russell Westbrook led the Nuggets (47-30) with 30 points to go along with 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals. In his second career start, Pickett recorded his first triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
Even though Denver is fighting for playoff seeding in the Western Conference, Nuggets coach Michael Malone sat all five of his starters, including MVP candidate Nikola Jokic, who scored a career-best 61 points in 53 minutes in the 140-139 loss to Minnesota in double overtime on Tuesday.
Christian Braun, who’s been dealing with a sore foot and also logged 53 minutes against the Timberwolves, Aaron Gordon (calf), Jamal Murray (hamstring) and Michael Porter Jr., who is taking care of a family situation and also missed Tuesday night’s game, joined Jokic in street clothes.
Here are three takeaways from a win that improved the Spurs’ road record to 12-24:
1. Paul wanted this one badly.
Late in the fourth quarter, the future Hall of Fame point guard forgot he stands just 6-foot and slammed into 6-11, 265-pound DeAndre Jordan in pursuit of a rebound.
The collision sent Paul sprawling and had Barnes applauding his fellow graybeard.
“Here he is 40 years old still trying to run in there and jump and get that rebound,” Barnes said. “I don’t know what he was thinking, but he wanted to win, so he put his body on the line.”
In addition to desperately wanting to end the Spurs’ five-game skid, Paul was facing some of his closest friends in the game.
CP THREEEE x2
— San Antonio Spurs (@ spurs) April 3, 2025
“It’s always fun to play against them guys,” Paul said. “Man, DJ and Russ are seriously like my brothers. We’ve been in this league so long. There are a lot of guys that you just come across as teammates or opponents or whatnot, but them two guys, I’m extremely close with. And Michael Malone too. We are really close.”
Paul and Malone bonded years ago in New Orleans, when Paul was a young star and Malone an up-and-coming assistant coach.
When Malone saw the Spurs had several players out, he knew they would still compete at a high level given they still had Paul.
“Chris is a Hall of Famer, and never underestimate a Hall of Famer and a guy that competes like Chris does,” Malone said. “Chris is one of the best competitors and leaders I’ve ever been around.”
2. Both coaches took care of their players.
Johnson said they decided to sit Vassell because he was “getting a little bit too much in the danger zone” after playing on an injured ankle for a while.
“It’s being mindful of the big picture, keeping him healthy, and so we made the call,” Johnson said.
With the Spurs all but out of the play-in race, it really wasn’t that big of a deal to give the fifth-year forward a breather. But it was a different case all together for Malone, especially when it came to sitting Jokic.
In the past, the three-time MVP has fought to play on nights Malone wanted him to take a break. But the coach said this time is wasn’t open for debate and that he informed the superstar, who has been playing through elbow and ankle injuries, after Tuesday’s game that he wouldn’t play against the Spurs.
“I looked at the stat sheet and I saw he played a lot of minutes, so it was a back-to-back and I just went up to him after the game, I said, ‘Hey, you’re out tomorrow,’ " Malone said. "This wasn’t going to be a discussion. Because Nikola will play through anything, and sometimes you have to be the coach. And he understood.”
3. Jordan McLaughlin had his biggest bucket as a Spur.
The point guard has seen little time since coming to the Spurs as a throw-in in the three-team blockbuster trade that brought Fox to San Antonio from Sacramento on Feb. 3. But that didn’t stop him from taking and hitting a big 3 in the fourth quarter that put the Spurs back in front after Denver had taken its first lead of the game.
“The instincts just kick in,” McLaughlin said of not hesitating to let it fly from deep. “I love this game. I love the different situations and things that come up throughout a game. Down three, up three, whatever it may be, just be aggressive. I felt like I was open and just stepped into it confidently and knocked it down.”
Denver Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett, right, looks to pass the ball as San Antonio Spurs guard Jordan McLaughlin defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
It was McLaughlin’s only bucket of the game and it came on a night when other bench players either out of the rotation or just on the fringe of it stepped up.
“Go out there and have fun,” McLaughlin said of the reserves’ approach. “We knew we had just nine guys after we got to the arena, so everybody was going to have an opportunity and a chance to play. We all work really hard behind the scenes even when we’re not playing, so it was just a great opportunity for us to go out there and play basketball.”
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News
