Victor Wembanyama delivered a defensive masterclass as San Antonio Spurs overpowered the Detroit Pistons 114–103 on Monday in a bruising contest between two of the NBA’s most in-form teams.
Second in the Western Conference, San Antonio secured its ninth straight victory, overcoming an East-leading Detroit side that had arrived on a five-game winning streak.
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The 7-foot-5 Wembanyama dominated defensively, finishing with six blocks and 17 rebounds, igniting transition opportunities as the Spurs pulled away in the closing stages.
He added 21 points, while Devin Vassell powered the offence with 28 points, including seven three-pointers, as many as the entire Pistons team managed.
“They tried to impose their will. We tried to get out in transition, keep getting stops and find the open man. That’s what we did,” Vassell said.
The Spurs surged to an early 12-point lead but trailed by the end of the first quarter, setting the tone for a fiercely contested matchup. Tempers flared late in the second quarter when Cade Cunningham barged Stephon Castle to the floor, prompting a technical foul for Keldon Johnson after he intervened.
Detroit’s physical defence disrupted Wembanyama early, but the French star grew into the game. In the third quarter, Spurs guard Dylan Harper was sent crashing courtside into a cameraman during a heavy collision.
Wembanyama’s rim protection and rebounding eventually swung momentum, helping San Antonio open a 15-point cushion in the final period. Jalen Duren led a late Pistons rally with 25 points, but the comeback fell short. Julian Champagnie contributed 17 points for the Spurs.
The victory moves San Antonio to 41–16, still behind the conference-leading defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder (44–14).
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