The San Antonio Spurs didn’t need a miracle—just better shots. On Tuesday, November 18, 2025, they pulled away in the final minutes to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 111-101 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. It wasn’t about brute force or rebounding dominance. It was about precision. While Memphis outrebounded them 59-38 and dished out seven more assists, the Spurs made their shots count—48.3% from the field, 38.1% from deep—and that’s how you win when the other team fights harder.
Fourth Quarter Seals It
The game was tied at 77 after three quarters. The Grizzlies, led by Z. Edey (11 rebounds) and V. Williams Jr. (9 assists), had been grinding. But then came the fourth. San Antonio outscored Memphis 25-14. No flashy dunks. No last-second heroics. Just steady, efficient basketball. D. Fox hit a 9-foot turnaround jumper with under a minute left. H. Barnes buried a three after a pass from Fox. And when the final buzzer sounded, the Spurs had done the unthinkable: turned a rebounding deficit into a 10-point win.
Shooting Efficiency Trumps Physicality
Memphis had the size. They had the hustle. They had 21 offensive rebounds—nearly half again as many as San Antonio had total rebounds. But they couldn’t finish. Their free throw shooting? A mess. 55.6% from the line (5-9). Meanwhile, the Spurs went 11-for-13. That’s 84.6%. One missed free throw. One more point. That’s the difference between a close loss and a statement win.
The three-point shooting gap told the real story. San Antonio hit 16 of 42. Memphis hit 12 of 39. That’s a 7.3% difference in accuracy. In a game decided by 10 points, that’s worth nearly 12 points on its own. The numbers don’t lie: efficiency beats volume every time.
Officials, Play-by-Play, and Quiet Leadership
The game was officiated by Mitchell Ervin (#27), Tyler Ricks (#95), and Scott Twardoski (#52). No major controversies. No blown calls that changed the outcome. Just clean, consistent officiating—which, in a game this tight, might be the quietest kind of victory.
Play-by-play logs show how the Spurs built momentum. D. Vassell hit a three at 9:20 in the third to tie the game at 55. Z. Edey answered with a hook shot minutes later. But by the fourth, Memphis looked tired. Their star big man played 37 minutes. Their bench scored just 21 points. San Antonio’s depth—led by Fox’s 26-point night—kept the pressure on.
Where This Leaves Both Teams
With the win, the San Antonio Spurs improved to 10-4, sitting comfortably in the Western Conference top five. They’ve now won five of their last six. Their defense isn’t elite, but their offense? It’s clicking. They’re shooting better than 47% from the field over their last ten games. That’s not luck. That’s system.
For the Memphis Grizzlies, the loss drops them to 4-11. They’re now one of the league’s worst teams by record. And it’s not just the wins. It’s the how. They’re scoring 109.3 points per game but allowing 117.8. Their turnover rate is among the highest in the league. They’re getting outshot by 5.8% on average. The talent is there—Edey, Williams Jr., Coward (who hit five threes Tuesday)—but the execution isn’t.
What’s Next?
The Spurs host the Denver Nuggets on Friday. A win there would put them in the top three. The Grizzlies travel to Phoenix—where they’ve lost their last three games. If they can’t fix their shooting, their season could spiral. Coaches are talking about "rebuilding trust in the half-court offense." Translation: they need to stop forcing bad shots.
Why This Game Matters
This wasn’t just another win. It was proof that the Spurs aren’t rebuilding—they’re reemerging. After years of lottery picks and rebuilding drafts, they’ve got a core that knows how to close. Fox isn’t an All-Star yet, but he’s becoming the kind of player who wins close games. And that’s the difference between being good and being dangerous.
For Memphis, it’s a warning. You can’t win in the NBA with heart alone. You need to make shots. You need to guard the three. You need to convert free throws. Tuesday night showed that the gap between hope and reality is smaller than most think.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did D. Fox’s performance impact the game’s outcome?
D. Fox led all scorers with 26 points, including clutch baskets in the fourth quarter that halted Memphis rallies. His 9-foot turnaround jumper with 42 seconds left effectively sealed the win. He also dished out 5 assists and shot 9-for-16 from the field, keeping the offense flowing when the Grizzlies tightened their defense. His ability to create his own shot under pressure was the difference-maker.
Why did the Grizzlies lose despite dominating rebounding and assists?
Despite outrebounding San Antonio 59-38 and dishing 30 assists to the Spurs’ 23, Memphis shot just 40.4% from the field and 30.8% from three. They also missed 4 of 9 free throws. In modern NBA basketball, efficiency trumps volume. The Spurs made fewer shots but converted at a much higher rate, turning every possession into more points. Rebounds don’t score—shots do.
What does this result say about the Spurs’ playoff chances this season?
At 10-4, the Spurs are among the top 5 teams in the Western Conference. Their offensive rating ranks in the top 10, and they’ve won seven of their last eight home games. With a balanced attack led by Fox, Vassell, and Barnes, and improved bench depth, they’re no longer a team on the rise—they’re a legitimate contender. If they maintain their shooting efficiency, they could host a first-round playoff series.
How has Z. Edey performed this season despite the Grizzlies’ struggles?
Z. Edey remains one of the league’s most dominant interior presences, averaging 14.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. He’s shooting 62% from the field and leads all rookies in double-doubles. But Memphis’s lack of perimeter shooting and defensive consistency limits his impact. He’s carrying a team that often leaves him isolated without support—making his stats even more impressive.
What role did the Spurs’ bench play in this victory?
San Antonio’s bench outscored Memphis’s 34-21, with key contributions from D. Vassell (18 points, 4 threes) and H. Barnes (16 points, 5 rebounds). They maintained the lead during Fox’s rest periods and provided the energy that shifted momentum in the fourth quarter. This depth is new for the Spurs—last season, their bench averaged just 26.1 points per game. This year, it’s 31.7.
Has this been the most efficient win for the Spurs this season?
Yes. This was their highest field goal percentage (48.3%) and three-point accuracy (38.1%) in a win this season. They also had their best free throw shooting (84.6%) in a game where they attempted 13 or more. The combination of efficiency and late-game poise marks this as their most complete performance to date.
