Sitting second in the Western Conference, the Spurs were pushed hard for their ninth-straight victory by the East-topping Pistons, who had entered the home court match-up on a five-win streak of their own.
Defences dominated the first meeting between the two sides this season, with the 7-foot-5 Wembanyama making six blocks and 17 rebounds to fuel transitions as the Spurs pulled clear in the latter stages.
While the Pistons’ shooting was at times sloppy, Devin Vassell led the Spurs’ offence, with 28 points including seven three-pointers – as many as the entire Detroit team managed collectively.
“They tried to impose their will. We tried to get out on transition, keep getting stops, find an open man. That’s what we did,” said Vassell.
The Spurs had raced to a 12-point lead from tip-off.
But they trailed by the end of the first quarter, setting the tone for a fiercely contested back-and-forth game.
Late in the second quarter, Cade Cunningham barged Stephon Castle to the floor, angering Spurs teammate Keldon Johnson who earned a technical foul for retaliating.
But the Pistons’ defence kept them in the game, putting Wembanyama under particular pressure.
The French prodigy struggled to make an offensive mark on the early action.
San Antonio took a slender lead into half-time.
The contest tightened further in the third quarter.
Spurs guard Dylan Harper was slammed off the court and face-first into a cameraman.
Growing into the game, Wembanyama made multiple spectacular blocks and rebounds to propel his side up the court, as the Spurs opened a 15-point lead in the final quarter.
Jalen Duren led a late Pistons fightback, finishing with 25 points, but it ultimately fizzled as a resolute San Antonio saw out the game.
Wembanyama finished with 21 points, and Julian Champagnie added another 17.
“We all play for each other. We’re all super humble. All we want to do is win,” said Vassell.
The hard-fought victory puts the Spurs at 41-16, still trailing the West-leading defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder, at 44-14.
Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook scored 25 points to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 123-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies to snap a franchise- record 16-game losing streak.
The Kings, who won on the road for only the fourth time in 30 games, won for the first time since January 16.
The Grizzlies, who lost for the sixth time in seven games, got 21 points, seven rebounds and nine assists from Javon Small, 17 points from Olivier- Maxence Prosper and 16 points from GG Jackson.
Memphis, short-handed and undersized because of injuries, was outrebounded 45-37 and yielded 13 offensive rebounds.
Achiuwa had seven offensive boards.
Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant missed his 14th straight game because of an elbow injury with rookie Cedric Coward also sitting out because of a knee injury. (AFP/Reuters)
Edited by Tony Sabine
