NBA: Resilient Spurs' winding travels pit them against Cavaliers

Spurs Stay Resilient During Grueling Road Stretch Ahead of Cavaliers Clash. The San Antonio Spurs are showing resilience during one of the toughest stretches of their season: a nine-city, 18-day road trip.

Luke Kornet blocked Franz Wagner as time expired Wednesday, securing a 114-112 victory over the Orlando Magic in the sixth stop of the journey.

San Antonio continues its tour Friday in Cleveland, facing the struggling Cavaliers. The Spurs have gone 4-2 so far on the trek, which includes only one home game — a 126-119 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday — between Nov. 21 and Dec. 16.

“When games come down to the final possession, especially on the road, obviously it’s a lot of fun when you come out on top,” Kornet said. “I just tried to make a play. I’ll enjoy this one.”

Kornet, who spent the previous three years as the backup center for the Boston Celtics, has stepped into a larger role with Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama sidelined by a left calf strain. The 7-foot-4 Wembanyama last played on Nov. 14, leaving 7-foot-1 Kornet as a starter. He is now averaging career highs of 7.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 24.9 minutes per game.

“We have a good collective mindset of whoever is in and whatever it takes,” Kornet added. “Whenever you’re done, the next guy is going to keep it going.”

Point guard Stephon Castle remains out with a left hip strain sustained on Nov. 16. Both he and Wembanyama aim to return for the NBA Cup quarterfinals on Dec. 10 against the Los Angeles Lakers.

De’Aaron Fox led the Spurs with 31 points, including the final 10 of the game against Orlando, adding five rebounds and five assists. Rookie Dylan Harper contributed 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists off the bench. Power forward Keldon Johnson, San Antonio’s longest-tenured player, added 13 points, helping the Spurs claim their second win in as many nights following the home victory over Memphis.

“The guys emptied the tank throughout the game, so we had to cycle them out,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “I just played everybody because it was the second night of a back-to-back, and it was a really good team win.”

Things have been tougher for the Cavaliers, who have lost four of their last five games. They were outplayed Wednesday in a 122-110 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points, two days after a 43-point performance against the Indiana Pacers, but expressed frustration with the team’s overall effort.

“Right now, we’re not where we want to be, not where we need to be,” Mitchell said. “We can’t lose three in a row, have a promising performance against Indiana, and then come out and do this. No matter who’s out there, we all have to have it. But at some point, we’ve got to, as a collective, do it.”

The Cavaliers will be without center Jarrett Allen (right finger strain), sharpshooter Sam Merrill (right hand sprain), and Darius Garland, who is managing his return from a toe injury, against the Spurs.

“We just have to be better,” Mitchell said. “I don’t really have another message than that.” -Field Level Media/Reuters Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images