The San Antonio Spurs walked into Wells Fargo center last night as best team in the NBA with only 8 losses on the season. They walked out frustrated and with their ninth loss. The Sixers played arguably their defensive game in years to hold the Spurs to 71 points and secure a win where they didn't even score 80 points themselves. Coach Doug Collins was proud of the effort.
"What an incredible display by our guys defensively," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "I’ve never been more proud of them. That was a grind-it-out type of game."
Elton Brand also credited their defensive effort adding,
"Defense won us this game," Brand said. "We got hands in their faces and made them take difficult shots. Great win for us. It was due to defense. The Spurs are known for winning games like this. We stuck with it defensively and got it done."
Meanwhile, Spurs coach Gregg Popvich lamented the poor shooting from both teams. "I think it set offensive basketball back a decade or so."
The Spurs 77 points is the least they've scored in a game since 2008. Jrue Holiday scored a game high 27 points including a big late three pointer to really ice the game. Spencer Hawes added 13 points, while Elton Brand did his work on the glass with a ridiculous 17 rebounds. Andre Igoudala meanwhile, was fantastic on the defensive end.
The win pulls the Sixers to within 3 games of .500, next up for the Sixers is a trip to Minnesota tonight.