NBA roundup: Spurs take down Eastern Conference-best Pistons

[p]Sitting second in the Western Conference, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/san-antonio-spurs/IwmkErSH/"]Spurs[/a] were pushed hard for their ninth-straight victory by the East-topping [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-pistons/UcjMRj6J/"]Pistons[/a], who had entered the home court matchup on a five-win streak of their own.[/p][p]Defenses dominated the first meeting between the two sides this season, with the 7-foot-5 [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wembanyama-victor/jFmM1MFl/"]Wembanyama[/a] making six blocks and 17 rebounds to fuel transitions as the Spurs pulled clear in the latter stages.[/p][embed guid="eb75402f-1882-4360-9be2-def987cc4d17" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2026131428711219615?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]While the Pistons' shooting was at times sloppy, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vassell-devin/hIJfdJJJ/"]Devin Vassell[/a] led the Spurs' offense, with 28 points including seven three-pointers - as many as the entire Detroit team managed collectively.[/p][p][b]"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," [/b]said Vassell.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]Late in the second quarter, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cunningham-cade/0YleT8PG/"]Cade Cunningham[/a] barged [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/castle-stephon/Kzd3IGeT/"]Stephon Castle[/a] to the floor, angering Spurs teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/johnson-keldon/xj823cMg/"]Keldon Johnson[/a], who earned a technical foul for retaliating.[/p][p]But the Pistons' defense kept them in the game, putting Wembanyama under particular pressure. The French prodigy struggled to make an offensive mark on the early action.[/p][embed guid="0e23cc06-029a-40bc-8a65-b6a6ae20d564" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2026099974967112068?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]San Antonio took a slender lead into half-time. The contest tightened further in the third quarter.[/p][p]Spurs guard [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/harper-dylan/E95BW6Df/"]Dylan Harper[/a] was slammed off the court and face-first into a cameraman.[/p][p]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.[/p][embed guid="f3f1947f-c72d-4bbe-a7f0-fe426dacc76f" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2026120788131156231?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/duren-jalen/xva6ve5b/"]Jalen Duren[/a] 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 [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/champagnie-julian/vuyUXnGn/"]Julian Champagnie[/a] added another 17.[/p][p][b]"We all play for each other. We're all super humble. All we want to do is win,"[/b] said Vassell.[/p][p]The hard-fought victory puts the Spurs at 41-16, still trailing the West-leading defending champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/oklahoma-city-thunder/0fHFHEWD/"]Oklahoma City Thunder[/a], at 44-14.[/p]