Santi Aldama highlights in Grizzlies win vs Spurs

SAN ANTONIO — Mission found Santi Aldama was in effect.

Memphis Grizzlies players knew it was time to find their red-hot teammate after he saw a few shots go in. As for Aldama, he knew it was his night after his first shot attempt.

That shot was an aerial 3-pointer.

“It was my third in a row, counting the last game,” Aldama said. “I was like, ‘OK, shake it off and start playing.'”

It was Aldama’s only aerial ball of the night. He shined, scoring a team-high 29 points in the Grizzlies’ 140-112 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Aldama shot 5-for-12 on 3-pointers Friday night at Frost Bank Center. He made two 3-pointers in the first half, but it was a missed shot that signaled what was to come in the second half.

With one second left in the first half, Aldama fired a shot from the other side of the court line as the buzzer expired. The shot bounced off the back rim.

“I was a little bummed it didn’t go in,” Aldama said. “It felt so good.”

He is hot

Aldama was a constant source of offense throughout the night. He scored at least seven points in each quarter. His second-half playing time increased after Zach Edey left the game with a nose injury.

Seeing Aldama shoot like this is not unknown to his teammates.

“When he gets hot, there’s not a bad shot for him,” Jaylen Wells said.

Even Aldama impressed himself with his ability to score at all three levels on Friday night.

“After the last middy, I was like, wow,” Aldama said. “I definitely felt it.”

Get it done on both ends

Aldama’s scoring will get most of the praise, but for the second straight game he was arguably the best Grizzlies defender against Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.

Aldama’s ability to slide his feet helped him stay ahead of Wembanyama and compete with shots. The 7-foot-3 Spurs center isn’t usually matched up against bigs as nimble as Aldama.

Wembanayama finished the game with 19 points while shooting 8-for-19 from the field.

“That was big for me,” Aldama said. “I think I’ve had a couple of good defensive games and for me it was a personal challenge. (Wembanyama) is one of the best players in the NBA, so you always want to step up.”

Aldama was the last Grizzlies players to run off the floor. As he ran through the tunnel towards the dressing room, fans shouted his name, hoping he would stop.

When a fell called for the Grizzlies to post a hat, Aldama stopped his easy run. He then headed for the locker room, where a standing ovation from the staff awaited him.

“Sixth Man of the Year,” Desmond Bane said, “He can do it in a variety of ways. That’s what’s so different. Whether it’s shooting, driving, passing, guarding (Wembanyama) tonight. . . . To win basketball. Credit to him.”

Damichael Cole is the one Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.