The San Antonio Spurs will aim to rediscover their shooting rhythm as they host the Chicago Bulls on Thursday in a rare interconference matchup. It will be the Bulls’ only visit to the Alamo City this season, where they have won their last two encounters.
San Antonio enters the game on the heels of a 107-93 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Monday. The defeat marked their second in three games after a four-game winning streak and eliminated them from the NBA Cup.
Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 25 points off the bench, while rookie Victor Wembanyama contributed 15 points and 13 rebounds. Stephon Castle added 16 points, with Jeremy Sochan and Keldon Johnson scoring 14 and 10, respectively.
Despite the loss, the Spurs showcased a strong defensive performance, holding the Suns to 48.7% shooting. However, San Antonio’s offensive woes proved costly, shooting just 35% from the field and a dismal 18.2% (8-of-44) from three-point range. Wembanyama, notably, struggled from deep, missing eight of his nine attempts and going scoreless in the first half.
“The defensive effort was really good,” Spurs acting coach Mitch Johnson said postgame. “But we turned the ball over and missed a lot of shots. Those two things put a lot of pressure on your defense.”
The Spurs trimmed a 13-point halftime deficit to two late in the third quarter but faltered down the stretch as Phoenix opened the fourth with a 7-0 run to secure the win.
Bulls Coming in Hot
The Chicago Bulls travel to San Antonio fresh off a dominant 128-102 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak and was fueled by a standout performance from Josh Giddey, who recorded his first triple-double of the season with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists.
Nikola Vucevic added a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while rookie Matas Buzelis scored a career-high 20 points. Zach LaVine chipped in 18 points, with contributions from Ayo Dosunmu (16 points) and Talen Horton-Tucker (11 points).
Chicago excelled in several key areas, shooting 52.2% from the field and dominating in rebounds (54-41), fastbreak points (32-15), and points in the paint (62-40). Buzelis, the 20-year-old rookie, continues to impress, logging significant minutes in recent games. His steady improvement earned praise from head coach Billy Donovan, who lauded his resilience and work ethic.
What to Watch For
The Spurs will need to address their offensive inefficiencies, particularly from beyond the arc, to challenge a Bulls team that thrives on balanced scoring and dominance in the paint. Meanwhile, Chicago will look to build on their momentum, with Giddey and Buzelis emerging as pivotal contributors alongside their veteran stars.
Tip-off is set for Thursday night in San Antonio, with both teams aiming to solidify their footing as the season progresses.
