The Spurs have had a tough go of it lately, losing eight of their last ten games, dropping them to ninth place in the Western Conference at 24-26, two games behind the Grizzlies in eighth.
The Spurs traveled across Texas to face their in-state rival Mavs in Dallas on Sunday, needing a victory to snap a five-game losing streak and keep their playoff hopes alive, and they were able to do so thanks to DeMar DeRozan’s heroics. On Sunday, the star guard led the Spurs with 33 points, eight assists, and five rebounds, outdueling Luka Doncic (29 points, seven assists, three rebounds) down the stretch.
Late in the game, it was a back-and-forth battle, with Doncic tying the game with 20 seconds left after driving for a floater off a Mavs offensive rebound.
On the other hand, DeRozan answered with a filthy midrange stepback that reached the bottom of the net and gave San Antonio a 119-117 lead with a half second left.
It is vintage DeRozan, who has been terrific all season for the Spurs and is a big reason why they’re still in the hunt for the play-in out West. Doncic was pushed out near midcourt on the Mavs desperation attempt, and had his heave fall well short of the basket as the Spurs snuck out of Dallas with a much-needed victory.
