By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-04-12 01:06:57
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。
菲尼克斯太阳队前锋罗伊斯·奥尼尔(Royce O’Neale)（00号）从圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆凯拉什维利(Sandro Mamukelashvili)手中击落球，摄于2025年4月11日，菲尼克斯，NBA篮球比赛下半场。(美联社照片/Rick Scuteri)
菲尼克斯——日历和菲尼克斯市中心的气温都在表明，这确实是四月。
但从马刺和太阳对待本赛季倒数第二场比赛的方式来看，感觉更像是十月。
由于比赛有时呈现出季前赛的节奏，人手短缺的太阳队在下半场击溃了同样人手短缺的马刺队，在PHX竞技场以117-98的比分取得一场胜利。
已经无缘季后赛的太阳队，缺少了球星凯文·杜兰特(Kevin Durant)（左脚踝扭伤）。
早已无缘季后赛的马刺队，则缺少了凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)、德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)和 索汉 (Jeremy Sochan)，他们与受伤的主力球员 文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama)和达龙·福克斯(De’Aaron Fox)一同进入非激活名单。
结果是一场鱼龙混杂的比赛，太阳队不赢都不行。
瑞安·邓恩(Ryan Dunn)为太阳队贡献了26分和11个篮板，布拉德利·比尔(Bradley Beal)也砍下了21分。德文·布克(Devin Booker)得到18分。
朱利安·尚帕尼(Julian Champagnie)为马刺队投进23分，并命中6个三分球，追平了他的职业生涯最佳纪录。马刺队在上半场一度领先10分。
马刺队在第二节只得到14分，然后在第三节被对手以39-17的比分击溃，最多落后31分。
桑德罗·马穆凯拉什维利 替补出场，为马刺队贡献了19分。为了打完这场比赛，马刺队深入挖掘了阵容深度。
第三节末段的一个阵容包括乔丹·麦克劳克林(Jordan McLaughlin)和 马穆凯拉什维利 ，以及三名本赛季曾在发展联盟效力过的球员——马拉基·布兰纳姆(Malaki Branham)、哈里森·英格拉姆(Harrison Ingram)和大卫·杜克(David Duke Jr.)。
以下是从周五这场失利中得出的三个要点，这场失利使马刺队的战绩降至33胜48负：
- 三名常规球员的赛季可能已经结束
常规赛只剩下一场比赛，周日在主场对阵多伦多猛龙队，球迷们很有可能已经看到了凯尔登、瓦塞尔和 索汉 本赛季的最后一场比赛。
索汉 因下背部炎症连续缺席了六场比赛。
代理教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)表示，瓦塞尔休息一天来治疗左脚踝酸痛的情况早已酝酿已久。
“他一直受到上场时间的限制，并且一直在勉强支撑，”米奇·约翰逊说。“我认为这是脚踝和其他一些问题的累积。”
凯尔登·约翰逊的左脚踝酸痛是在周三最后时刻战胜金州勇士队后出现的。
“我们只是在观察情况，” 米奇·约翰逊说。
米奇·约翰逊没有排除凯尔登·约翰逊、瓦塞尔或 索汉 参加周日赛季收官战的可能性，但结果似乎已经很明显了。
- 马刺队要上演《钢铁侠3》
与此同时，老将克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)和哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)连续第81场比赛首发，但在中场休息后没有上场。
这是让这两位30多岁的老将（他们在本队的出场时间排名第一和第二）在账本上再添一场比赛，并且还能得到一些休息时间的方式。
布雷克·韦斯利(Blake Wesley)和 马穆凯拉什维利 在第三节代替他们首发。
“那些家伙已经打了81场比赛，”米奇·约翰逊说。“我会向他们致敬，他们在今晚打了14分钟。我相信他们的身体可以休息一晚。”
保罗和哈里森预计将在周日对阵猛龙队的比赛中首发，以完成完整的82场比赛，但如果这两名球员的上场时间再次受到限制，也不会令人惊讶。
23岁的 尚帕尼 也有望参加全部82场比赛。
如果这种情况发生——米奇·约翰逊表示没有理由不会发生——这将是自2001-02赛季（蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)、安东尼奥·丹尼尔斯(Antonio Daniels)和马利克·罗斯(Malik Rose)）以来，马刺队首次在同一赛季至少有三名球员完成这一壮举。
“这是一项了不起的成就，”约翰逊说。“当你不舒服的时候，你也在坚持上班。”
在全联盟范围内，上一支至少有三名球员参加82场比赛的球队是2017-18赛季的明尼苏达森林狼队，由经过认证的反负荷管理狂人汤姆·锡伯杜(Tom Thibodeau)执教。
那个俱乐部有四名球员做到了这一点——卡尔-安东尼·唐斯(Karl-Anthony Towns)、安德鲁·威金斯(Andrew Wiggins)、塔吉·吉布森(Taj Gibson)和泰厄斯·琼斯(Tyus Jones)。对于巴恩斯来说，这将是连续第三个“钢铁侠”赛季。对于保罗来说，这将是他的第二个，也是自2014-15赛季以来的第一个。
对于 尚帕尼 来说，这位前未选秀球员是马刺队在2022-23赛季从费城76人队认领来的，这将是他的第一个。
“你必须在这个联盟中保持耐用性，” 尚帕尼 说。“你必须能够应对起起落落。能够成为那个群体的一员，并表明我在留在球场上时是一个可靠的人，感觉非常好。希望我能在未来的很多年里做到这一点。”
- 乐透抽签的概率已经确定
周五的失利锁定了马刺队在NBA选秀抽签中的位置，使他们在下个月的抽签中拥有第八好的概率。
从这个位置出发，马刺队有6%的机会在三年内第二次获得状元签。他们有26.3%的机会连续第三个赛季获得前四顺位的选秀权。
马刺队在进入本赛季最后两场比赛时，已经没有办法提升排名了，但确实存在这样一种情况：马刺队、太阳队和波特兰开拓者队可能会并列乐透抽签中的第八、第九和第十名。
这将导致额外的随机抽签，可能会略微减少他们的中奖组合数量。
输给菲尼克斯太阳队消除了马刺队获得三方并列的可能性，而波特兰开拓者队输给金州勇士队则使三方并列成为不可能。
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) drives on Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) drives between Phoenix Suns forward Cody Martin (17) and Grayson Allen during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley (14) drives on Phoenix Suns center Oso Ighodaro during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) drives on Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) drives on Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns forward Cody Martin (17) shields the ball from San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives past San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal drives past San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) shoots between San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) and guard Chris Paul during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns center Oso Ighodaro dunks over San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) drives on San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
点击查看原文：3 Takeaways as Spurs' skeleton crew helps lottery odds
3 Takeaways as Spurs’ skeleton crew helps lottery odds
Phoenix Suns forward Royce O’Neale (00) knocks the ball away from San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
PHOENIX – The calendar and the temperature in downtown Phoenix said it was indeed April.
The way the Spurs and Suns approached the penultimate game of the season Friday, it might as well have been October.
With play at times taking on the tenor of a preseason game, the shorthanded Suns blew out the shorthanded Spurs in the second half to post a 117-98 victory at PHX Arena.
Phoenix, which had already been eliminated from playoff contention, played without star Kevin Durant (left ankle sprain).
The Spurs, who had already long since been eliminated from playoff contention, played without Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan, who joined injured mainstays Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox on the inactive list.
The result was a rag-tag game that Phoenix could not help but win.
Ryan Dunn led the Suns with 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Bradley Beal pumped in 21 points. Devin Booker found his way to 18.
Julian Champagnie threw in 23 points and matched a career-best with six 3-pointers to lead the Spurs, who led by as many as 10 points in the first half.
The Spurs managed only 14 points in the second quarter, then were pounded 39-17 in the third, falling behind by as many as 31 points.
Sandro Mamukelashvili added 19 points off the bench for the Spurs, who went deep into the roster to get through the game.
One lineup near the end of the third quarter included Jordan McLaughlin and Mamukelashvili alongside three players who had appeared in the G League this season – Malaki Branham, Harrison Ingram and David Duke Jr.
Here are three takeaways from Friday’s loss, such as it was, which dropped the Spurs to 33-48 overall:
1. Season might be over for three more regulars
With only one game remaining in the regular season, Sunday at home against Toronto, there is a good chance fans have seen the last of Keldon Johnson, Vassell and Sochan for the season.
Sochan missed his sixth consecutive game with a lower back inflammation.
Acting coach Mitch Johnson said Vassell’s day off to nurse a sore left ankle had been a long time coming.
“He was on a minutes restriction and kind of holding it together,” Johnson said. “I think it was a culmination of the ankle and some other things.”
Keldon Johnson’s sore left ankle is something that cropped up after Wednesday’s last-second win at Golden State.
“We’re just kind of monitoring it,” Mitch Johnson said.
Mitch Johnson wouldn’t rule out Keldon Johnson, Vassell or Sochan for Sunday’s season-finale, but the writing appears on the wall.
2. Spurs to produce Iron Man 3
Meanwhile, veterans Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes started for the 81st game in a row, but did not play after halftime.
It was a way for the pair of 30-somethings, who rank first and second on the team in minutes played, to chalk another game-played in ledger and still get some time off.
Blake Wesley and Mamukelashvili started the third quarter in their place.
“Those guys have played 81 games,” Mitch Johnson said. “I’ll tip the cap they played tonight the 14 minutes. I’m sure their bodies could use the night off.”
Both Paul and Harrison are expected to start Sunday against the Raptors to make it a full 82 games, though it would not be surprising to see both players’ minutes again limited.
Champagnie, 23, is also in line to appear in all 82 games.
If that happens – and Mitch Johnson indicated there was no reason it would not – it would mark the first time the Spurs had at least three players accomplished that feat in the same season since 2001-02 (Tim Duncan, Antonio Daniels and Malik Rose).
“That’s a heck of an accomplishment,” Johnson said. “You’re showing up for work when you’re not feeling well.”
League-wide, the last team to have at least three players appear in 82 games were the 2017-18 Minnesota Timberwolves, coached by certified anti-load management maniac Tom Thibodeau.
That club had four players do it – Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Taj Gibson and Tyus Jones. For Barnes, it would be the third consecutive Iron Man season. For Paul, it would be his second and first since 2014-15.
For Champagnie, a former undrafted player the Spurs claimed off waivers from Philadelphia in 2022-23, it would be his first.
“You’ve got to be durable in this league,” Champagnie said. “You’ve got to be able to go with the ups and downs. It feels pretty good to be a part of that group and to show I’m a reliable guy when it comes to staying on the court. Hopefully I can do that for whatever many more years.”
3. Lottery odds are set
Friday’s defeat sealed the Spurs’ place in the NBA draft lottery, locking them in with the eighth-best odds in next month’s drawing.
From that spot, the Spurs have a 6% chance of landing the No. 1 pick for the second time in three years. They have a 26.3% chance of landing a top-4 pick for the third consecutive seasons.
The Spurs had no way of moving up entering the season’s final two games, but there did exist a scenario in which the Spurs, Suns and Portland Trail Blazers could tie for lottery spots eight, nine and 10.
That would have resulted in an additional random drawing that could have reduced their number of winning combinations slightly.
Losing to Phoenix eliminated the Spurs’ chances of a three-way tie, while Portland’s loss to Golden State made a three-way tie impossible.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News