Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle powered the San Antonio Spurs to a dominant 127-95 road win over the Milwaukee Bucks, extending their league-best run to eight consecutive victories.
VICTOR Wembanyama posted 23 points and 15 rebounds while rookie Stephon Castle notched a triple-double to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a commanding 127-95 victory at the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.
The win extends the Spurs’ NBA-best win streak to eight games. Castle contributed 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, while Wembanyama added six assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
San Antonio improved to 56-18, solidifying second place in the Western Conference and sitting just two games behind the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder. The Spurs have clinched their first playoff berth since 2019 and own an NBA-best 24-2 record since February 1.
“Taking a lot of pride in it,” Wembanyama said of the team’s dominant form. “Something none of us was used to until recently. It shows a lot of progress.”
The 2023 top draft pick has transformed the Spurs from a 22-60 team in his rookie year into a legitimate title contender. “I guess one big component I have better than my first two years is winning. Now we’re a winning team,” he added.
Wembanyama credited the team’s collective defensive effort for their success. “I know we’re the best defense out there,” he stated. “We have just a great collective so I’ve got 100% trust in my teammates.”
The Spurs seized control early, racing to a 46-24 lead just over two minutes into the second quarter. They entered halftime ahead 67-45 and never looked back, leading by as many as 33 points in the fourth quarter.
The Bucks, playing without Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo for a sixth straight game due to a knee injury, were officially eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. Milwaukee’s defeat secured no worse than a play-in tournament spot for the Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat.
In other action, the Philadelphia 76ers snapped Charlotte’s five-game win streak with a 118-114 road victory. Joel Embiid scored 29 points, Paul George added 26 points and 13 rebounds, and Tyrese Maxey contributed 26 points for the 76ers.
The Detroit Pistons delivered a defensive masterclass in a 109-87 road win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Detroit held Minnesota to just 32% shooting from the floor as the Timberwolves missed a season-high 34 three-point attempts.