The Kawhi-less Spurs are running on fumes, and it took a 23-point explosion from Tony Parker—who hadn’t cleared the 20-point mark in more than two years—to propel them past the league-worst Grizzlies 100-98 last night. Pau Gasol also hurt his shoulder in the game, making matters no easier for Gregg Popovich’s skeleton crew. “Right now we are in survival mode,” Parker said after the game.
On a less bleak note, Kyle Anderson delivered this perfectly Kyle Anderson quarter-speed highlight in the fourth quarter. To save a botched outlet pass, he pirouetted out of bounds while scooping up a leisurely no-look alley-oop for a trailing Davis Bertans.
Great finish from Bertans, too. It’s a shame Popovich will have to sacrifice him upon a slab to appease the hoop gods before the Spurs embark on this road trip to Golden State, Oklahoma City, and Houston.