SAN ANTONIO Spurs overcame a strong showing by Atlanta Hawks’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker to score a 135-126 victory in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season on Thursday (Friday, Philippine time) at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
De’Aaron Fox scored 26 points and Keldon Johnson fired 25 off the bench as the Spurs saw a 19-point lead shrink to three entering the fourth quarter before regrouping down the stretch.
Atlanta briefly went ahead, 101-100, on a layup by Alexander-Walker with 9:17 remaining, but San Antonio answered with a 10-0 burst capped by a Jeremy Sochan dunk for a 110-101 cushion.
The Spurs rebuilt the margin to 15 points on a David Jones Garcia dunk with 5:03 to play and kept the Hawks at bay, as Atlanta got no closer than nine the rest of the way.
Julian Champagnie finished with 20 points for San Antonio, while Harrison Barnes added 16 markers, while Devin Vassell and Jones Garcia contributed 15 and 12, respectively.
Alexander-Walker erupted for a career-high 38 points for the Hawks, Jalen Johnson delivered 26 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, Kristaps Porzingis chipped in 16, Onyeka Okongwu 15, and Luke Kennard 10.
Meanwhile, Jalen Suggs knocked down five three-pointers on his way to a team-high 23 points, and Orlando Magic continued the tailspin of the visiting Los Angeles Clippers, 129-101.
Franz Wagner complemented Suggs with 20 points, Tristan da Silva added 17 points and eight rebounds, and Desmond Bane converted 3-of-6 from 3-point range on the way to 15 points.
The Clippers mounted little offensive threats outside of James Harden, who had a game-high 31 points, while Ivica Zubac chipped in a double-double of 14 points and 19 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Memphis Grizzlies scored a lopsided 137-99 victory over the slumping Sacramento Kings, while Philadelphia 76ers edged Milwaukee Bucks, 123-114./PN
