The plan was not for Lonnie Walker to try and score a game-winner over the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
Yes, Walker was having a good night. He was one of seven Spurs who finished Friday’s 128-126 road victory against the Jazz with double-digit points, posting 19 and joining Keldon Johnson (24 points, eight rebounds), Derrick White (22 points), Dejounte Murray (16 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists), Jakob Poeltl (14 points), Devin Vassell (13 points) and Doug McDermott (11 points).
And yes, San Antonio — the NBA’s top-scoring team in the paint — wasn’t hindered much by 7-foot-1 Rudy Gobert’s long limbs and elite defensive instincts, scoring 52 points in the lane.