Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Brooklyn Nets

There’s something particularly cruel about NBA schedules sometimes. Fresh off a Christmas Day heart-breaker at Madison Square Garden, the Spurs are now being asked to drag their bodies to Brooklyn to face the Nets and yet another New York crowd.

The basketball gods do have a sense of humor though. Victor Wembanyama, still buzzing from a 42-point Garden debut that left New York fans checking their phones to see when the Spurs visit next, gets to match up against Nic Claxton, another impossibly long big man who makes guards reconsider their life choices at the rim.

The contrast should be fascinating: Claxton, the more traditional rim-runner, against Wembanyama, who spent his Christmas launching threes like a 7’4” Steph Curry impersonator.

The Spurs are still searching for consistency in everything except their ability to make games interesting. They’ve shown flashes of brilliance, usually coinciding with Wembanyama doing something that breaks basketball physics, but they’re still learning how to translate those moments into victories.

If the Spurs want to avoid their 2nd three-game losing streak of the season, they’ll need to find answers to some tough questions: Can they keep the flame-throwing Cam Thomas from getting to his spots? Will their defense hold up when Wembanyama sits? Can they avoid the turnover bug that’s bitten them lately?

Of course, as we saw in the Garden, sometimes all those questions become moot when Wembanyama decides to put on a show. And after that display, you can bet a lot of people will be tuning into this one.

San Antonio Spurs at Brooklyn Nets

December 27th, 2024 | 6:30 CT

Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Southwest |Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: None

Nets Injuries: Bojan Bogdanovic – Out (Foot), Trendon Watford – Doubtful (Hamstring), Cam Thomas – Day-to-Day (Hamstring), Ziaire Williams – Day-to-Day (Knee), Dorian Finney-Smith – Day-to-Day (Leg)

What to watch for

Holiday Awesomeness

It’s the holidays! If I’m having to sell you on reasons to curl up on the couch and watch this game, you might have clicked on the wrong website.

For the Nets’ fans’ perspective, visit NetsDaily.

PtR’s Game thread will be up this evening for those who want to chat through the game. You can also follow along with the action through PtR’s Twitter feed.