MINNEAPOLIS — For the second game in a row Monday, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had seen enough of his starting unit.
Less than four minutes into the second half of a 108-107 victory at Chicago, Popovich benched his five starters and turned the game over to his reserves.
A game earlier in Milwaukee, Popovich did the same after his starters dug a 15-point hole in what became a 135-129 defeat.
“Their movement has been really good,” Popovich said of his plucky second unit. “Not as talented as the first group, but they move really well and play with a lot of energy. We’ve got to figure out a way to inject some of that into the starting team.”
Popovich’s starters say that message has been received.
“Hell yeah,” starting guard DeMar DeRozan said. “Those guys pulled us together. When the bench is playing like that, the starters have no choice but to step it up.”
Popovich emptied his bench in Chicago after a 13-2 Bulls run to open the second half.
Behind 17 points from Patty Mills, the Spurs’ reserves outscored Chicago’s 44-14 to key the much-needed victory.
“At the end of the day, our job is to bring energy off the bench and change the pace of the game,” Mills said.
Heading into Wednesday’s game at Minnesota that closes a four-game road trip, Popovich is hoping his at-times sluggish starting unit can learn a thing or two from their backups.
Those starters are hoping to oblige.
“The second unit has been bringing the juice,” starting point guard Bryn Forbes said. “The ball movement has been amazing. I think they’re doing everything right right now.”
White comes through:
Derrick White logged 24 minutes in Chicago, his most since moving from the starting unit to the bench six games ago.
It was his most productive night with the second unit, including eight points, six rebounds and a pair of steals. With the game in the balance in the fourth quarter, White made the Spurs’ go-ahead shot, a transition 3-pointer with 4:11 remaining.
“I’m trying to get back in rhythm, get my confidence back,” said White, who did not make his season debut until Nov. 7 after suffering a foot injury in training camp. “It’s tough, being out for a month and then the minutes are inconsistent. I’m trying to get a rhythm and help the team.”
Popovich said part of the process with the second-year guard is “trying to convince him he belongs.”
Monday marked a step in the right direction.
“He made a couple aggressive moves, took some shots,” Popovich said. “I think he’s starting to feel comfortable.”
White nears debut:
Rookie guard Lonnie Walker IV is expected to make his professional debut Friday, with plans to suit up for the G-League Austin Spurs against the Agua Caliente Clippers.
Walker, who is recovering from a torn meniscus in his right knee suffered Oct. 5, has been practicing with the Spurs’ G-League club this week.
“The knee is great, honestly,” Walker said after a G-League workout in San Antonio on Tuesday. “It feels like I am back to Lonnie Walker. Day by day, it’s nothing but improvement.”
The Spurs will continue to exercise caution with Walker, selected No. 18 overall in the June draft. He will be on a minutes restriction for Austin on Friday.
Walker’s October surgery marked the second meniscus repair in 16 months, after he suffered a similar injury in July 2017 just before the start of his lone college season at Miami.
“You got to crawl before you can walk and walk before you can run,” Walker said. “So it’s all about stages and taking steps little by little until it’s my opportunity.”
Jeff McDonald is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | Jmcdonald@express-news.net | Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN