Spurs Find New Identity as Barnes and Fox Hold Off Grizzlies 126-119
If you glanced at the San Antonio Spurs bench on Tuesday night, the most imposing figure in the arena was sitting still, draped in a brown hoodie. Victor Wembanyama, nursing a strained left calf, was a spectator. In years past, seeing the franchise cornerstone in street clothes might have signaled a scheduled loss for San Antonio. But this iteration of the Spurs is built differently.
On a night defined by veteran resilience and fourth-quarter poise, San Antonio proved once again that they are more than just a one-man show. Behind a season-high 31 points from Harrison Barnes and a masterclass in closing from De’Aaron Fox, the Spurs held off a scrappy Memphis Grizzlies squad, 126-119, at the Frost Bank Center.
The win pushed San Antonio to a surprisingly robust 6-2 record since Wembanyama went down on November 15. What could have been a season-derailing stretch has instead transformed into a proof-of-concept for the supporting cast.
Harrison Barnes Sparks the Spurs Early
Coming into Tuesday, Harrison Barnes was looking for redemption. Just 48 hours prior, he had struggled mightily in a loss to Minnesota, shooting a dismal 1-for-4 from deep. The veteran forward didn’t waste time dwelling on the past. Barnes came out with intent, burying his first three attempts from beyond the arc to set the tone for the Spurs’ offense.
Barnes finished the night with an efficient 31 points on 10-of-20 shooting, including a blistering 7-of-12 from three-point range. It was the kind of stabilizing performance San Antonio envisioned when they brought him in—a calm, experienced hand to guide a young roster through the turbulence of an NBA season. When Memphis threatened to pull away in the first half, it was Barnes who provided the answer, keeping the floor spaced and the scoreboard ticking.
Fox Takes Command in Crunch Time
While Barnes provided the early spark, De’Aaron Fox provided the finishing blow. The dynamic point guard, who finished with 29 points, saved his best work for when the lights were brightest. Fox poured in 11 points in the fourth quarter alone, single-handedly dismantling the Grizzlies’ comeback hopes.
San Antonio had found themselves in a hole, facing a seven-point deficit as the game tightened up. That’s when Fox went to work. Operating with surgical precision in the pick-and-roll and attacking the rim with his signature speed. The Spurs are 9-2 at home this season largely because they now have a closer who can generate his own shot when the offense stagnates.
Rookie Dylan Harper also deserves a nod. The youngster chipped in 15 points, looking increasingly comfortable playing alongside established stars. The backcourt chemistry between Harper and Fox is developing rapidly, giving the Spurs a multi-headed attack that is difficult to defend even without their 7-foot-4 alien patrolling the paint.
Spurs Survive Physical Battle in the Paint
This game wasn’t just a track meet; it was a physical grind, largely due to the presence of Memphis sophomore Zach Edey. The 7-foot-3, 299-pound center was a nightmare for a San Antonio frontcourt missing its best rim protector. Edey finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds, helping the Grizzlies outscore the Spurs 58-42 in the paint.
The physicality boiled over more than once. In the first half, Edey and Jeremy Sochan got tangled up in a play that sent both crashing to the floor. Later, with under ten minutes left in the game, Edey was flagged for a common foul after an elbow caught Luke Kornet in the face.
Despite being battered inside, San Antonio didn’t fold. They compensated for the size disadvantage with perimeter shooting and active hands, forcing turnovers and controlling the tempo. It wasn’t pretty in the lane, but the Spurs did just enough to neutralize Memphis’s brute strength.
Looking Ahead for San Antonio
The Grizzlies, playing without their own superstar in Ja Morant, got valiant efforts from Cam Spencer (21 points) and Jaylen Wells (20 points), but they lacked the closing execution that Fox provided for the home team.
For the Spurs, the train keeps rolling. Now sitting at 14-6, they have weathered the storm of Wembanyama’s absence better than anyone could have predicted. They head to Orlando on Wednesday for a back-to-back, carrying the confidence of a team that knows it can win in multiple ways. When Wembanyama does return, he won’t be coming back to save a sinking ship—he’ll be rejoining a squad that has learned how to sail on its own.
