TITLE: Spurs extend winning streak to nine with 114-103 road victory over Pistons
SLUG: spurs-extend-winning-streak-nine-victory-over-pistons
CONTENT:
DETROIT — The San Antonio Spurs opened a five-game road swing by defeating the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons 114-103 on Monday night, stretching their season-best winning streak to nine games.
Devin Vassell poured in 28 points, while rookie center Victor Wembanyama added 21 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks to keep San Antonio (41-15) within striking distance of the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder atop the Western Conference standings.
Detroit (39-18) entered the night with the NBA’s best record and a five-game surge of its own, but struggled from the outset. The Spurs raced to a 14-2 advantage, surrendered a brief three-point deficit after one quarter, then reclaimed control behind a flurry of three-pointers and Wembanyama’s rim protection.
San Antonio opened the fourth quarter with seven unanswered points to build a double-digit cushion it never lost. According to ESPN Research, the result marked the Spurs’ fifth win this season against the league’s top-record holder (four versus Oklahoma City, one versus Detroit), the most by any team since the 1992-93 New York Knicks.
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham endured a rough shooting night, hitting just 5 of 26 attempts yet finishing with 16 points and 10 assists. Center Jalen Duren supplied 25 points and 14 rebounds in his second game back from a two-game suspension. Forward Isaiah Stewart remained out while completing his own league-mandated ban stemming from a recent altercation in Charlotte.
Tensions flared early in the second quarter when Cunningham was whistled for an offensive foul after knocking down Spurs rookie guard Stephon Castle. San Antonio forward Keldon Johnson shoved Cunningham in response, and Duren pointed a finger in Johnson’s face. After video review, Johnson and Duren were assessed technical fouls.
The Pistons will look to rebound when they host Oklahoma City on Wednesday. The two clubs meet again in San Antonio on March 5 to conclude the home-and-home set.
Source: ESPN
