San Antonio, TX – November 21, 2025 – The San Antonio Spurs continued their fortress-like reign at Frost Bank Center, grinding out a hard-fought 135-126 win over the Atlanta Hawks to push their home record to an impressive 8-2 this season. In what proved to be a true nail-biter, San Antonio’s balanced attack and defensive grit outlasted Atlanta’s late surge, solidifying their status as one of the NBA’s toughest home-court teams. For searches like “Spurs home dominance 2025” or “Spurs vs Hawks result November 20,” this victory – the Spurs’ third straight without Victor Wembanyama – highlights why they’re surging up the Western Conference standings at 11-4 overall.
Balanced Spurs Attack Overpowers Hawks: Fox, Johnson, and Bench Shine in Home Win
De’Aaron Fox was the steady hand guiding San Antonio’s offense, dropping 26 points and dishing 9 assists in 36 minutes, including a game-sealing pull-up jumper with 45 seconds left that extended the lead to 132-124. Keldon Johnson backed him up with 24 points and 7 rebounds, hitting 4-of-7 from three to exploit Atlanta’s perimeter lapses. “Spurs home record hits 8-2 after edging Hawks,” as NBA insiders buzz, with the duo’s synergy proving lethal in transition – they combined for 15 fast-break points in a game that saw 261 total tallies.
Depth defined the night for the Spurs, who went without Wembanyama (left calf strain), Stephon Castle (hip flexor), and Dylan Harper (calf). Julian Champagnie erupted for 20 points off the bench, including a momentum-shifting three during a crucial 12-3 run in the fourth. Jeremy Sochan added 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals, while Harrison Barnes notched 13 points to inch closer to his 15,000 career milestone. San Antonio’s 48% field goal shooting and 42% from deep (17-of-40) overwhelmed the Hawks, who couldn’t match the hosts’ 14 offensive rebounds. This home dominance extends a streak where the Spurs are outscoring opponents by 12.4 points per game at Frost Bank Center.
Now 5-0 against the Eastern Conference, San Antonio’s “nail-biter vs Hawks” win – their eighth home victory in 10 tries – cements them as a playoff dark horse. Coach Gregg Popovich praised the group’s “unselfish play” postgame, noting how the 8-2 home mark mirrors their 2023-24 late-season surge.
Hawks’ Fourth-Quarter Fireworks Fall Just Short: Alexander-Walker Leads Valiant Effort
Atlanta entered as five-game winners but couldn’t breach San Antonio’s home walls, despite a blistering 54% from three in the final frame. Nickeil Alexander-Walker owned the spotlight with a career-best 35 points on 13-of-18 shooting (9-of-11 from deep), single-handedly fueling a 28-22 fourth-quarter edge that trimmed a 109-98 deficit to four points late. Jalen Johnson was a force with 25 points, 11 boards, and 5 assists, but his four turnovers in crunch time handed the Spurs easy buckets.
The Hawks shot lights-out overall (53% FG, 50% 3PT) but were undone by 17 miscues leading to 26 Spurs points and a minus-7 rebounding battle (42-49). Dropping to 9-7 without Trae Young (MCL sprain), Atlanta’s “Hawks vs Spurs box score” reveals a team that’s 6-1 when shooting 50%+ from deep but vulnerable on the road (3-4 away). Quin Snyder lamented the “self-inflicted wounds” after the loss, vowing tweaks ahead of their next Eastern clash.
Game-Changing Sequences: Spurs’ 20-5 Spurt Turns Nail-Biter into Home Triumph
This “Spurs edging Hawks in nail-biter” lived up to its billing with hairpin turns. The Hawks jumped to a 28-22 lead after one, riding Alexander-Walker’s hot start. But San Antonio responded with a devastating 20-5 run bridging the second and third quarters, capped by Champagnie’s corner three and Fox’s steal-to-dunk sequence, flipping it to 81-65 midway through the third.
Atlanta clawed back with a 22-10 burst to open the fourth, knotting it at 108-108 with 5:32 left on Johnson’s alley-oop slam. Yet the Spurs’ home poise prevailed: Sochan’s block on Dyson Daniels sparked a 10-2 mini-run, and Fox’s free throws in the final minute sealed the deal amid chants of “De-fense!” from 18,354 faithful. Full “Spurs vs Hawks NBA highlights” are blowing up on YouTube, with over 500K views already on the viral dunk reel.
Broader Impact: Spurs’ 8-2 Home Mark Fuels Playoff Push in Loaded West
San Antonio’s home dominance isn’t fluke – it’s formula. At 8-2 in Frost Bank Center, they’re holding foes to 108.2 points while averaging 120.6, a net rating that ranks top-5 league-wide. This win without their big three stars screams versatility, positioning the Spurs for a top-6 seed hunt in the gauntlet West. Bettors love it too: Spurs home games have hit the over in 7-of-10, making “Spurs betting trends November 2025” a hot topic.
For the Hawks, the road loss (now 3-4 away) spotlights Young’s absence as a pivot point – his return could flip their 50-win potential. As the 2025-26 NBA slate rolls on, expect these teams to rematch with even higher stakes.
Did the Spurs’ depth steal the show, or was Alexander-Walker’s barrage the real story? Share your hot takes below, and subscribe for “Victor Wembanyama injury update” and more “NBA home court dominance” breakdowns!
