One would think after the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Toronto Raptors in double-overtime on Sunday they’d be exhausted in an early Monday 
game in Washington.
On Monday, the Spurs brought energy to the United Center in Washington D.C. as they blew out the Wizards on the Wizard’s home floor 118-92. Tired legs, not for the Spurs as they shot 57% in the game and their machine-like offense scored over 26 points in all four quarters on Monday, while seven players ended the game scoring in double figures.
Most notable of the many productive Spurs on Monday was the Brazilian big man Tiago Splitter who finished the game with 15 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks; all in just 23:17 minutes of action.
Here’s the rundown.
First quarter: Spurs 29, Wizards 25
It was an up-and-down first quarter as both teams exchanged the lead a few times. Late in the quarter though, Tony Parker (15 points) got the Spurs going as the team ended the quarter on a 7-0 run. Parker scored nine points in the first, while Gary Neal (13 points) added eight. After playing two overtimes against Toronto the night before, the Spurs were shooting 52% after one.
Second quarter: Spurs 60, Wizards 48
The Spurs’ offense ignited in the second quarter as the team outscored the Wizards 31-23. Toward the end of the second quarter, the team ended the quarter on a 10-0 run to take the 12-point lead into the half. By half, the Spurs had already made 7-of-12 three pointers, while Parker, Neal, Manu Ginobili (12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists), and Splitter all went into half with double digit scoring. The Spurs were shooting 58% after one half.
Third quarter: Spurs 92, Wizards 70
The Spurs’ offense continued to excel in the third quarter as the team built a 20-plus point lead and outscored the Wizards 32-22 in the quarter. After three quarters, Boris Diaw (16 points) had joined the squad in double-digit scoring while the team was shooting 63% for the game and the defense was limiting the Wizards to 41% shooting.
Fourth quarter: Spurs 118, Wizards 90
When the home fans are cheering for plays made by a visiting team, you know it’s probably a blowout. That’s what the fourth quarter continued to be as the Spurs emptied their bench with players who rarely see action like Cory Joseph and Nando De Colo. Even the newest returning Spur James Anderson got a few minutes of playing time in the fourth. Anderson would hit the final 3-pointer of the game as the Spurs, who at one time owned a 29-point lead, defeated the Wizards by 26.
The Spurs move to 12-3 on the season with the win. The team will have Tuesday off before finishing the final two games of their East Coast road trip (4-0) down in Florida where they’ll visit the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat on Wednesday and Thursday.
Post-game notes
· Other notable double-digit scorers were Tim Duncan (14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists), after being named the Western Conference Player of the Week, and Matt Bonner (11 points).
· Every Spurs player who played in the game scored except for Joseph.
· A big reason for the win was the Spurs’ bench, as the bench combined for 69 points in the game.
· The Spurs also shot 13-of-23 (57%) from 3-point range in the blow-out.
· The most amount of minutes played for any Spur was Neal with 26 minutes.