For much of Wednesday night’s season-opening home win over the Knicks, the Spurs lacked their characteristic focus and discipline. Turning the ball over 21 times, including 16 of the live-ball variety, in three quarters is never a good recipe for success. But somehow, they made it work, overcoming the 32 points the Knicks scored off those turnovers (more than any Spurs’ opponent all last season) to win in relatively comfortable fashion.
For the most part, the victory was built on fast break scoring (30 points, more than in any game last season) and at the free throw line (another 29 points).