Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Close losses like this build character The Spurs can be such a tease. Victor Wembanyama and Julian Champagnie combining for seven fourth-quarter triples couldn’t deliver the Spurs’ eighth win after being down double-digits. It’s also the team’s fourth loss by five points or fewer. They were in sight of the finish line with 80 seconds left, but the 76ers saved themselves from humiliation. A slow start from Wemby and Charles Bassey kept the squad from creating separation in the first quarter. Joel Embiid keyed in on Wemby, causing two misses, and Guerschon Yabusele blocked him from behind because he went up softly instead of dunking. But then Wembanyama got rolling in the second quarter, making three of five baskets. Keldon Johnson was his only teammate to record multiple field goals in the period as the 76ers maintained a potent defense. But then came the drama. Has someone told Embiid that Benjamin Franklin said, “Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame”? He disagreed with a call and was tossed late in the second quarter for trying to intimidate a ref, but his team was surprisingly better without him. The Spurs had difficulty guarding in the second half, logging a 121.2 defensive rating and committing 10 turnovers, which didn’t help them either because they couldn’t get into position on the retreat. Don’t forget the league worst average in defensive rating is 119.4. Takeaways The LA Times’ Mal Florence once wrote that Wilt Chamberlain’s performance was like watching “Gulliver venting his rage on the little folks who play the game.” Wembanyama, as a shot blocker, is as close as it gets to that. He erased mistakes in transition and the half-court and was the main force in soiling the 76ers’ first-half attack. My favorite was his third block- he anticipated a handoff, stayed high and blew up Kyle Lowry’s jumper. Success on these plays will ensure that he can’t be targeted on the perimeter as other big men are. The Spurs were undisciplined in the fourth quarter, turning the ball over six times, which cost them seven points. The second to last Champagnie blunder had the psychological effect of catching an uppercut to the jaw in a close fight because Maxey punched in a mean jam with his off-hand through contact, further igniting the crowd. The giveaways are harder to stomach because the 76ers couldn’t cover the three-point line, so one or two more San Antonio makes could have made them fold. Statistically, this was Stephon Castle’s most efficient night as a pro. He made 77.8 percent of attempts and his previous high was 58.3 percent in the loss against the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 15. Five of his seven baskets came in the third quarter which included two through contact. He was effective, breaking into the lane with his dribble. The Spurs have struggled to contain the NBA’s quicker guards. The fourth quarter was no different as Maxey’s speed in the open court and late shot heroics killed the Spurs’ comeback. When he left the defense up top in the dust, the help wasn’t there to stop him in the back on multiple plays. Sochan didn’t contribute any points in the fourth frame (0/2), but he made six of seven through three. Wemby successfully threw him two lobs, which are some of my favorite plays- it reminds me of Nikola Jokić tossing it to Aaron Gordon, his security blanket. Additionally, all of his baskets were in the restricted area or just outside of it. Don’t forget that he was an average finisher at close range last season and this year he is logging seven percentage points higher. The Spurs only scored 30 paint points and three via second chances. After the game, coach Mitch Johnson said when you only produce that, it’s an uphill battle.