Austin Spurs forward Harrison Ingram bulldozed his way to the basket with 4:32 on the clock remaining in the first quarter for an and-1 bucket. Ingram missed the free throw, but then grabbed the rebound, made another layup and let the audience hear his excitement. Just like Ingram, the Spurs will be screaming their way into the playoffs after a dominating 118-86 victory over the Mexico City Capitanes in their season finale.
Ingram made his presence known in the post, as he has all season, leading the team with 10.9 rebounds per game. Today was no different. Not only did he lead the team with 12 rebounds, but he also led the team in scoring with 25 points.
“I just like his mindset tonight and last night,” Spurs head coach Jacob Chance said. “He was aggressive, he’s on the (ram screen), he’s in the paint. He’s making decisions for us, and when he’s attacking like that, he’s a handful.”
While Ingram held the spotlight tonight, he had no problem sharing it at times, as seven Spurs players scored double-digit points in the victory. Amongst those seven was Spurs guard Adam Flagler, who usually spends his time as the team’s facilitator but got to join in on the scoring parade tonight with 18 points, the second highest on the team.
“Yeah, pleasing for everyone who played tonight, played the right way, ball was moving, we really guarded.” Chance said. “And yeah, usually when you play the right way, good things happen.”
Everything was on the line tonight for the Spurs, and they played like it. Austin needed the win to stay alive for the fourth and final home-court advantage spot in the Western Conference. Mexico City is one of the best teams in the league and had plenty to play for, fighting for the second seed in the Western Conference, but were overpowered by Austin. Nothing is set in stone yet, following the game, as the Spurs await the result of the Stockton Kings game to decide their fate.
No one on the Spurs wants to play at least one more time in front of their home crowd more than Chance, who shared after their victory Thursday night against the Rip City Remix that his mom had come into town from Australia for the last couple of weeks of the season.
“(It’d) be cool, be cool for all of our guys to have family and friends in the crowd.” Chance said. “We’ve played really well here all year, guys are comfortable, they’re in their own homes. Obviously, that would be a luxury.”
Following the remainder of the games in the G League tonight, the Spurs will know the location and their opponent for the first round of the playoffs. But, until then, they wait and watch.
