Devin Vassell says fans near Scissortail Park tried to hinder the Spurs by playing loud music that kept him tossing and turning ahead of Game 7 in Oklahoma City.
The night before Game 7, Devin Vassell wasn’t just thinking about matchups or film. He was thinking about sound.
San Antonio is heading into a massive Game 7 in Oklahoma City. with a spot in the NBA Finals on the line against the Thunder. The winner will face the New York Knicks. And at Spurs practice. Vassell described how the electricity around Paycom Center could come with a cost for the visitors: fans near Scissortail Park had been trying to disrupt players’ ability to compete seriously.
“I was tossing and turning for a little bit, for sure. … I know they’re going to be playing music out there at that park trying to keep us up, so I was trying to get as much sleep as possible,” Vassell told reporters at Spurs’ practice.
The park he referenced is Scissortail Park, located directly across from the Thunder’s home venue, the Paycom Center in OKC.
It’s a reminder that Game 7 isn’t only played on the court. This one begins with both teams exhausted from a grueling series that has already reached the point where every hour matters. The Spurs and Thunder have played six games so far, including a double-overtime battle in Game 1. San Antonio struck first, winning that game and taking a 1-0 series lead.
After OKC won the next two, the series turned into a back-and-forth exchange of victories. The Spurs’ 113-91 win in Game 6 at San Antonio set up the winner-take-all finale.
For Vassell, workload has been constant. He’s led the team in minutes played, averaging 33.9 per game, just slightly ahead of starting teammate Stephon Castle at 33.4 minutes per game.
In Game 1, Vassell stayed on the court for 51 minutes. He finished with 13 points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal in the 122-115 double-OT win.
There was one brief reprieve more recently. Vassell played 26 minutes in the Spurs’ recent win. a sign head coach Mitch Johnson was preserving him for the decisive moment. Now. San Antonio will be leaning on Vassell and the rest of the team for the kind of big performance that holds up when the series is down to one game.
The Spurs and Thunder tip off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday in Oklahoma City.
Devin Vassell San Antonio Spurs Oklahoma City Thunder Game 7 Paycom Center Scissortail Park NBA playoffs Mitch Johnson Stephon Castle New York Knicks