Despite playing without Tony Parker and Pau Gasol, the Spurs entered the domain of the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers hoping to make their biggest statement of the season since an opening-night win at Golden State. After a back-and-forth game that 48 minutes couldn't decide, the Spurs won it in overtime on the back of Kawhi Leonard’s first career 40-point game.
The Cavs opened the game hitting two threes on their first three possessions while the Spurs struggled to get any open looks early, leading Pop to call a timeout with his team in an early 12-4 hole. The Spurs came back with an 8-2 run by pushing the Cavs in transition, and Tyrone Lue to called a timeout with 6:26 left in the first quarter.