By Greg Luca, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-12-04 00:56:03
2025年12月3日，周三，在佛罗里达州奥兰多举行的一场NBA篮球比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫德文·瓦塞尔 (Devin Vassell)（右）在上半场持球突破奥兰多魔术队后卫德斯蒙德·贝恩的防守。(美联社照片/John Raoux)
佛罗里达州，奥兰多——为了准备背靠背的第二场比赛，圣安东尼奥马刺队在凌晨3点后才抵达球队下榻的酒店。主教练米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson) 并未进行事无巨细的管理，而是让每位球员根据自己的感觉来做最适合自己的调整，以应对这场紧张的赛程转换。
对后卫德阿隆·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) 来说，这意味着睡觉、吃点东西，然后回去再小睡一会儿。中锋卢克·科内特 (Luke Kornet) 则希望能睡得越久越好，但他的生物钟却抗拒长时间的休息，于是他前往了附近的天主教圣母宇宙之后国家圣殿参加弥撒。
球队的其他成员则选择了睡眠、录像分析和理疗的某种组合，他们都明白约翰逊克服疲劳的计划就是“让每个人都上场”。
福克斯在比赛最后几秒命中制胜罚球，全场砍下31分；科内特在终场哨响时送出锁定胜局的盖帽；此外还有五名球员得分上双，共同帮助马刺队在周三的客场比赛中以114-112战胜魔术队。
凭借这场胜利，圣安东尼奥在周五下午6:30客场挑战克利夫兰之前，赢得了一段短暂的喘息之机，并再次证明了这支球队的坚韧。
“我们都是一群斗士，”后卫迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper) 说。“无论我们身处何种境地，我认为从第1人到第12、13人，无论多少人上场，我们都全力以赴，为胜利做出了贡献。”
马刺队（15胜6负）在周二主场战胜孟菲斯队前后，在家停留的时间不足48小时。他们在11月底刚刚结束了一段8天4个客场的魔鬼赛程，而周三又开启了另一段8天4客场的征途。如果圣安东尼奥在12月10日对阵湖人队的NBA杯四分之一决赛中获胜，他们接下来可能还要前往拉斯维加斯。
背靠背比赛的概念对NBA球员来说并不陌生，但周三的比赛是圣安东尼奥本赛季唯一一次在背靠背第二晚需要向东跨时区作战，这无疑带来了额外的挑战。
马刺队目前还在应对前锋维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 和斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) 的缺阵。文班亚马已经连续缺席了八场比赛，而卡斯尔在周三也迎来了他连续第七场休战。
尽管如此，约翰逊表示马刺队不愿改变他们的比赛节奏，也不接受在防守和篮板上有所松懈，即便他知道“如果不大范围轮换，让主力球员们一直这样拼是无法持续的”。当林迪·沃特斯三世 (Lindy Waters III) 在第二节开始时登场，他已是第11位上场的马刺球员。
“他们在整场比赛中基本上是倾其所有，我们只能不断地进行人员轮换，”约翰逊说。“我们需要每个人的每一分钟，这是一场非常棒的团队胜利。”
福克斯说，马刺队将周三这样的比赛称为“成熟的胜利”，这展现了一支没有在艰难赛程面前退缩的球队所具备的韧性。约翰逊也看到了福克斯身上体现出的这些品质，即便在比赛的最后一攻出现意外时，他依然展现出了“沉着与冷静”。
当魔术队（13胜9负）在比赛还剩7.7秒时扳平比分后，福克斯准备执行最后一投。他本想创造一次后撤步跳投的机会，但瞥了一眼计时器，发现还剩四秒。为了避免给奥兰多留下最后一攻的机会，福克斯继续保持运球，但在他向罚球线突破时失去了对球的控制，迫使他在右侧肘区收球准备跳投。奥兰多队的乔纳森·艾萨克 (Jonathan Isaac) 冲向这个可能失控的球，并在此过程中对福克斯犯规，将他送上了罚球线。
福克斯两罚全中，使他全场20投11中（三分球7投3中）砍下全场最高的31分。他包揽了圣安东尼奥最后的10分，除了这次罚球，他还在比赛剩26秒时两罚全中，并在比赛剩2分03秒和3分14秒时命中了两记三分球。
“我觉得我就是为这种时刻而生的，”福克斯说。“在过去几年的职业生涯中，命中关键球一直是我所擅长的事情，我并不认为这会改变。”
对科内特来说，周三就是那种开球时间似乎来得特别快的夜晚之一。他踏上球场时就意识到，在接下来的几个小时里，他必须想办法“榨取出能量”。
他赛前的重点之一是打得更具直觉性，而不是过多计算，因为他明白奥兰多队的身体对抗会使这场对决变成一场硬仗。在那个锁定胜局的防守回合中，约翰逊说科内特的“直觉比我们教练组在暂停时布置的任何战术都更出色”。
在比赛还剩1.4秒、手握两分领先优势的情况下，魔术队布置最后一攻，约翰逊指示马刺队要重点防范三分球。但当奥兰多将边线球发给切入篮下的弗朗茨·瓦格纳 (Franz Wagner) 时，科内特立刻放弃了他在三分线上的防守人，从弱侧过来协防。瓦格纳的惯性使他在接球后冲到了篮下，迫使他转身尝试上篮。这瞬间的停顿给了科内特横移过来的时间，并最终在哨响的同时将球盖向了场边的观众席。
“有时候我们需要更多地用脑子打球，但有时候我们只需要直面挑战，”科内特说。“奥兰多队非常擅长迫使你必须去迎接那种挑战。”
科内特看到全队都经受住了这次考验，展现了球队的深度和“无论谁在场上、都不惜一切代价”的集体心态。哈珀从替补席上贡献了16分，凯尔登·约翰逊 (Keldon Johnson) 作为替补也得到13分，而首发球员德文·瓦塞尔（15分）、朱利安·尚帕尼 (Julian Champagnie)（14分）和哈里森·巴恩斯 (Harrison Barnes)（11分）也都得分上双。
即使在米奇·约翰逊所说的那种“并非总是充满乐趣”的日子里，瓦塞尔表示，团队的韧性和来自全队的各项关键贡献，都证明了为什么周三的这场胜利会被铭记为一场“意义重大的胜利”。
“我们是一个很特别的团队，伙计，我们都为彼此而战，”瓦塞尔说。“每个人都全情投入，每个人都全神贯注，没有个人主义。每个人都只想赢球。就是这么简单。”
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (7) celebrates with teammates after blocking a shot by Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner to win an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie, left, passes the ball around Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) drives past Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson directs players during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
San Antonio Spurs forward David Jones Garcia, right, drives against Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson, right, look for a shot as Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
San Antonio Spurs forward David Jones Garcia, right, loses control of the ball as he tries do drive past Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, right, tries to get past Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson, left, drives past Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) gets past center Luke Kornet (7) for a shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper, right, shoots over Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) is fouled by San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson, left, as he goes up for a shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson (11) drives past San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane, right, drives around San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs, right shoots over San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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。
点击查看原文：How the Spurs fought through fatigue to score 'mature win'
How the Spurs fought through fatigue to score ‘mature win’
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell, right, drives around Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
ORLANDO, Fla. — Arriving to the team hotel after 3 a.m. to prepare for the second leg of a back-to-back, San Antonio Spurs coach Mitch Johnson chose not to micromanage, letting each player do whatever he felt was best ahead of the quick turnaround.
For guard De’Aaron Fox, that meant sleeping, grabbing something to eat, and then heading back to bed for a nap. Center Luke Kornet wanted to sleep as much as he could, but his internal clock revolted against a long rest, so he went to Mass at the nearby Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe.
The rest of the roster settled on some combination of sleep, film study and treatment, understanding that Johnson’s plan to push through the fatigue was to “just play everybody.”
Fox delivered the winning free throws in the closing seconds of a 31-point night, Kornet provided the game-sealing block at the buzzer, and five other players scored in double figures to power the Spurs to a 114-112 road win against the Magic on Wednesday.
In the process, San Antonio earned a short respite before Friday’s 6:30 p.m. tip in Cleveland and secured another example of the roster’s mettle.
“We some dogs,” guard Dylan Harper said. “No matter what circumstance we’re in, I think from 1 to 12, 13, however many people played, we all went out there, and we all contributed to winning.”
The Spurs (15-6) were home for less than 48 hours around Tuesday’s win against Memphis. They closed November with a stretch of four road games in eight days, and Wednesday opened another run of four road games in eight days. A trip to Las Vegas could follow if San Antonio wins its NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Lakers on Dec. 10.
The concept of a back-to-back is not foreign to NBA players, but Wednesday marked the only time this year San Antonio will shift time zones to the East for the second night, creating just a little extra crunch.
The Spurs are also working around the absences of forward Victor Wembanyama, who missed an eighth straight game, and Stephon Castle, who sat for the seventh game in a row Wednesday.
Still, Johnson said the Spurs weren’t willing to deviate from their pace or accept lesser effort on defense and rebounding, even if he knew it was “unsustainable for those guys to be able to do it” without significant rotation. When Lindy Waters III checked in to begin the second quarter, he was the 11th Spurs player to take the floor.
“They emptied the tank basically throughout the game, and we just had to continue to cycle guys in and out,” Johnson said. “We needed every minute from everybody, and it was a really good team win.”
Fox said the Spurs call games like Wednesday “mature wins,” showing the resilience of a team that didn’t fold to the difficult turnaround. Johnson saw Fox embody those qualities, showing “poise and composure” to deliver even when the final play of the game went awry.
Sizing up the final shot after the Magic (13-9) tied the game with 7.7 seconds remaining, Fox worked to set up a step-back jumper, but a quick glance at the clock showed four seconds still remaining. Wary of giving Orlando the last possession, Fox kept his dribble alive, then lost control as he attacked toward the free-throw line, forcing him to gather for a jumper from the right elbow. Orlando’s Jonathan Isaac attacked the potential loose ball and fouled Fox in the process, sending him to the free-throw line.
Fox knocked down both to give him a game-high 31 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including a 3-for-7 mark from 3-point range. He scored San Antonio’s final 10 points, also knocking down a pair of free throws with 26 seconds remaining after hitting 3-pointers with 2:03 and 3:14 on the clock.
“I feel like I’m built for those types of moments,” Fox said. “Making big shots has been something I’ve done throughout the last couple of years of my career, and I don’t really see slowing down.”
For Kornet, Wednesday was one of the nights when tipoff time seems to approach a little faster, and he stepped on the floor realizing he would simply have to “find energy” for the next couple hours.
One of his points of emphasis coming into the day was playing more instinctual rather than calculated, understanding Orlando’s physicality would turn the matchup into a fight. On the game-sealing defensive play, Johnson said Kornet’s “instincts were better than anything we told him in the timeout as a coaching staff.”
Holding a two-point lead as the Magic set up with 1.4 seconds on the clock, Johnson instructed the Spurs to take away the 3-pointer. But when Orlando sent the inbound pass to Franz Wagner cutting toward the basket, Kornet broke away from his man at the 3-point stripe, attempting to help from the weak side. Wagner’s momentum pulled him under the basket on the catch, forcing him to spin for a layup attempt. The hesitation gave Kornet time to slide across and block the ball into the courtside seats at the buzzer.
“Sometimes we have to think the game a little more, and sometimes we just have to meet the challenge,” Kornet said. “Orlando does a great job of making you have to meet that challenge.”
Kornet saw that test answered across the roster, showing depth and “a collective mindset of whoever is in, and whatever it takes.”
Harper scored 16 points off the bench, Keldon Johnson added 13 from a bench role, and starters Devin Vassell (15), Julian Champagnie (14) and Harrison Barnes (11) also finished in double figures.
Even on the type of day that Mitch Johnson said “isn’t always fun,” Vassell said the group’s resilience and the critical contributions from around the roster showed why Wednesday will be remembered as a “big-time win.”
“We have a special group, man, and we all play for each other,” Vassell said. “Everyone is engaged. Everyone is locked in, no egos. Everybody just wants to win. That’s what it is.”
By Greg Luca, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News