'That Was My Fault': Mitch Johnson Owns the Missed Timeout That Sent the Spurs to Overtime in Utah
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson took the blame for the final seconds of regulation in Wednesday's 117-111 overtime win over the Jazz — he was arguing a no-call instead of calling the timeout that could have set up a game-winner — and his players, led by Devin Vassell's 21 points, bailed him out in the extra period.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson owned up to the mistake that sent Wednesday's game at Utah to overtime in the first place. With 4.9 seconds left in regulation and the score tied, Victor Wembanyama rebounded a Keyonte George airball, but Johnson — arguing what he believed was a missed shot-clock violation — never called the timeout that would have let the Spurs set up a final play. De'Aaron Fox instead heaved a shot from just past half court that missed badly, and the game went to an extra period the Spurs won 117-111, according to Sports Illustrated's postgame report.
“That was my fault in the last four seconds,” Johnson said postgame, as reported by SI. “I thought there was a shot clock violation ... I was too busy yelling ... and then I was going to call a timeout.” Johnson added: “I get on those guys all the time about not letting their emotions get the best of them and staying composed, and I should have called a timeout ... those guys had my back.”
His players backed the account. Devin Vassell, who scored 21 points with five rebounds and three steals and produced four points in overtime — including a tip-in dunk and the lob that set up Wembanyama's late dunk — said in the locker room: “We mess up a bunch of times in games. That's just human nature. ... We have his back. We know he has our back.” Wembanyama finished with 36 points and 14 rebounds, his first 30-point game of the season, as San Antonio won its third straight after an 0-2 start. The Spurs host Minnesota on Saturday at Frost Bank Center; the Jazz visit San Antonio on Nov. 2.
