San Antonio Spurs star DeMar DeRozan picked up where he left off on Saturday night against New Orleans(14-19). DeRozan, who was away from the team due to the death of his father, scored 32 points and dished out 11 assists as the Spurs(17-12) defeated the Pelicans 117-114 at AT&T Center in the second game of the Spurs’ four-game homestand.
DeRozan scored 11 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, including 7/7 from the free throw line. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich was impressed by DeRozan’s performance.
“He was spectacular,” Popovich said after the game. “To be gone that long and not show any rust, and to be able to have the wind to play as much as he did and as hard as he did. A lot of guys that are tough to guard on that New Orleans team. He was special.”
Dejounte Murray, who scored 18 points on Saturday night, was happy to have DeRozan back.
“He just showed he’s a real professional, a real vet,” Murray said. “This is his happy place. What he was going through, I can only imagine. I talked to him the whole time he was gone, trying to let him know I’m here for him; the team is here for him. I’m not surprised; that’s just DeMar being DeMar, back in his happy place. It’s good to have him back.”
DeRozan is the closer for the Spurs, and having him back the floor helps this team down the stretch in close games.
The Spurs have now won six of their last eight games, and they have moved into the fifth spot in the Western Conference. On Monday night, the Brooklyn Nets come to town, which will be a tough one for San Antonio when you consider they still will be without Rudy Gay, Devin Vassell, Derrick White, who are all out due to health safety protocol. They could get Keldon Johnson(health and safety protocols) back, who is questionable against Brooklyn.
DeRozan by the numbers:
DeRozan’s 32 points and 11 assists was his 12th career 30-plus point double-double and only fourth with the assist variation. He became the first player in Spurs history to have a game with 30+ points and 10+ assists while shooting at least 75% from the floorwhen he scored 30 points and dished out 10 assists in the Spurs 119-109 win over Denver.
•Only two Spurs have recorded multiple 30-point 10-assist games in the last 30 years: DeMar DeRozan, Tony Parker.
•DeRozan has 124 career games with 30+ points. Only 9 players have more since he was drafted in 2009: LeBronJames,KevinDurant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook,StephenCurry, Damian Lillard, CarmeloAnthony, Anthony Davis and GiannisAntetokounmpo.
•Fourth Spurs in San Antonio franchise history with at least 5 games with 25+ points and 10+ assists. Tony Parker (22), Alvin Robertson (12), Johnny Dawkins (6), DeRozan (5).
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