Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images The Spurs scored 79 points in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Charlotte’s 18 first-half threes. With De’Aaron Fox’s season coming to an end for finger surgery, this was the Spurs’ first game of what some would ca ll “tank mode”, and they Spurs ever do their part, at least on defense. For the second time this week, the Spurs gave up over 140 points to a team that just couldn’t miss from three, both contested and wide open. Overall, the Charlotte Hornets hit a franchise record 26 threes, and although the Spurs had a good offensive night themselves, it was not enough in a 134-145 loss whose final score ended up looking more respectable than most of the game actually was. The Hornets were hot from the get go, hitting their first six shots, including 4-4 from three for a 17-10 lead less than four minutes in to set the tone for the rest of the game. The Spurs looked a little disjointed at times, like a team that was once again adjusting to a new starting lineup with Stephon Castle replacing Fox. Devin Vassell took on the role of go-to scorer with 10 points on 4-5 shooting in the quarter, but Charlotte was too hot, hitting 8-13 threes as Spurs trailed 37-26 heading into the second quarter. The threes kept falling for the Hornets while the Spurs struggled to score, protect the ball, and get rebounds, and they found themselves behind by 22 points three minutes into the quarter and never got closer in the first half. They got decent looks on offense but just couldn’t get enough to fall while failing to stop the Hornets on the other end. By the time the blood bath first half was over, the Spurs had given up a season-high 81 points and found themselves down by 26 while the Hornets had hit 18-27 from three. The start of the second half featured some awful defense from the Spurs, giving up a three-point play, easy offensive rebound and an unnecessary double-team that left Mark Williams wide open for a dunk for seven quick points (in other words, all the usual problems with this defense sans Victor Wembanyama). By the time the Spurs started catching up on offense, they had already been down by 31 points and still couldn't get enough stops to make any kind of extended run. Every time they “threatened” to get the lead into the low 20’s, Charlotte had an answer. With both teams scoring 40 points in the quarter, the score at the end of three looked more like a typical final score, 95-121. For once, it was the Spurs attacking the offensive glass to start the fourth, scoring the first five points, including a Castle three after three offensive rebounds in one possession, and this time it was Charlotte coach Charles Lee calling an early timeout. Unfortunately, the Spurs could never get closer than 20, and Mitch Johnson emptied the bench midway through the quarter. The third unit actually put up a fight to make the final deficit more respectable, and thanks to a few more threes, the Spurs actually ended up making 21 on the night, but it was still no match for Charlotte’s 26, which ended up being the difference. Game Notes Here’s how insanely hot the Hornets were in the first half: not only did they far exceed the Spurs’ season high of points given up in a half, but the Warriors are the only other team to score 18 threes in a half this season. Josh Green (what is it with players named Green being so good at shooting threes?) hit 5-5 threes in the half (four of which came early to start the trend), while Nick Smith, Jr. was 6-6. LaMelo Ball also had three, including a “who cares” heave from near the logo without ever even trying to set up any offense on their second-to-last possession of the half. Per usual, the Spurs could have defended better — for example, they leave the near corner open to double-team way too often — but sometimes other teams are just too hot. In one horrific sequence in the third quarter, Ball hit three straight threes, the third of which came standing flat footed (almost as if he was testing the basketball gods as to how hot they truly were) off Castle fumbling the inbound pass from his previous make. Ball has horrible shooting form and he looks like he carries the ball on practically every dribble, but he’s an exciting player and fan favorite for a reason. As predicted, Blake Wesley was the recipient of role player minutes with Fox out and Castle moving to the starting lineup, and he was his usual self. He showed flashes of brilliance with his quick speed, effort and defensive instinct, but his handles, decision making and finishing leave something to be desired. He finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Play of the Game The third unit is what made the final score looking even marginally respectable (or at least as respectable as giving up 145 points in regulation can be), so we’ll give it to the Mamu block leading to a Jordan McLaughlin transition three. The block ➡️ the three pic.twitter.com/SCHwRYVpFQ— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 15, 2025 Up next: Saturday vs. New Orleans Pelicans The Spurs finish their four-game home stand and FIGASENI against the Pelicans tomorrow. Tip-off will be at 7:30 PM on KENS5. ...read more read less