Harrison Barnes is generally the gold standard for NBA credibility. Before Tuesday night, the San Antonio Spurs forward had not missed a single professional basketball game since the end of 2021. But even the league’s most durable giants are no match for the dangers of the mid-day snooze.
In one of the most bizarre injury reports you’ll ever see, Barnes was a late scratch for Tuesday’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. The reason was as simple as it was frustrating: Via AP News, he woke up with left ankle pain after a pre-game nap.
The temporary injury officially broke his incredible streak of 364 consecutive games played. The last time Barnes was eliminated from a competition was in December. 4, 2021, when he was a member of the Sacramento Kings. Since then, he has been a fixture on the court, and has provided a steady veteran presence for whatever team he has represented.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson had to adapt quickly without his experienced forwards, but the rest of the roster left no stone unturned. San Antonio completely destroyed a shorthanded Philadelphia team in a 131-91 blowout loss at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Devin Vassell led the scoring charge with 22 points, including six three-pointers, while rookie Dylan Harper provided a big spark off the bench with his 22 points.
Victor Wembanyama didn’t have to carry the heavy scoring load, but remained a defensive terror, finishing with 10 points, eight rebounds and six blocks in just 24 minutes. Stephen Cassel also had a stellar performance with a 15-point, 10-assist double-double, while De’Aaron Fox led the offense with 11 points and seven assists. Tyrese Maxey, on the other hand, put up a lone battle for the Sixers and finished with 21 points and eight rebounds.
It’s a tough way to end a great “Iron Man” race. Barnes was not sidelined due to a hard screen or a playoff foul; He was betrayed only by his own bed. While Spurs have dominated without him, they will soon need his consistency. Barnes has already been ruled out for the upcoming game against the Detroit Pistons, meaning the wait for his new streak to start continues.
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