Spurs Vs Pistons: spurs vs pistons — Spurs pass 'good test' in Detroit
In Detroit on Monday night the San Antonio Spurs beat the Detroit Pistons 114-103 in a physical game that served as a possible preview of the NBA Finals, and the matchup labeled spurs vs pistons featured Victor Wembanyama posting 21 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks. The Spurs refused to be roughed up, responding to physical play with toughness and talent while Wembanyama called it "a good test. "
Spurs Vs Pistons physical clash
The Spurs passed the test even with their superstar struggling with his shot — Wembanyama was 6-of-16 — while Devin Vassell scored 28 and made seven 3-pointers. Three other Spurs teammates scored in double figures and San Antonio combined to make 18 of 40 shots beyond the arc. The win ran San Antonio's streak to a season-high nine games in a row in one account, though other coverage described the team as riding an eight-game winning streak; the Spurs were described as the biggest challenger to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference and were noted as trailing only Oklahoma City in the West.
Wembanyama's numbers and history
Wembanyama's 21/17/6 line in Detroit followed a stretch in which he accumulated 203 points, 25 blocked shots and 15 three-pointers made over eight games, a sequence that was described as making him the first player in NBA history to put up those totals during an eight-game winning streak. That eight-game run averaged to more than 25 points per game, about 3. 1 blocks per game and about 1. 8 made three-pointers per game. Wembanyama is in his third season with a franchise that has not been in the postseason since 2019.
Temper flared in first half
Tempers flared in the first half when Cade Cunningham was called for an offensive foul after extending his arms and knocking Stephon Castle down on the court. Spurs forward Keldon Johnson responded by pushing Cunningham, and Pistons center Jalen Duren — who had been recently suspended by the league — pointed his right finger in Johnson's face. After a review, Johnson and Duren were called for technical fouls in the second quarter of the closely contested game. Castle said, "That sparked a lot of energy on our team because we're not going to back down. "
Coaching remarks and matchups
Wembanyama said, "It's definitely a night where we confirmed progression and confirmed potential as well. That was a good test. " He also said, "I don't know what the playoffs are like, but I know we're going to need some of that. " Pistons coach J. B. Bickerstaff said, "We know how talented Wemby is and how impactful he can be, but it's not a one-man show over there. They have a bunch of talented perimeter players. " Bickerstaff also said the team is consistent with its identity on rebounding and forcing turnovers, that the team always responds and that his frustrations at times are a problem (he was angry with the team at half). He added that Ausar has such a big defensive impact and called Jalen Duren "a dominant force on both ends of the floor. "
Cunningham finished the game having missed 21 of 26 shots and ending with 16 points and 10 assists while Stephon Castle guarded him most of the game. Other matchup notes published in a February 23, 2026 matchup column projected Jalen Duren to guard Wembanyama for most of his minutes and suggested De'Aaron Fox could be matched on Cade Cunningham, with Fox described as making the team for the first time as an injury replacement.
Upcoming schedule and projections
The schedule noted the Pistons, who had won five straight, host Oklahoma City on Wednesday night and that the Spurs would continue a five-game road trip with a game at the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. Matchup projections listed Team Totals as Spurs 114. 5 and Pistons 116. The injury report listed Isaiah Stewart (O, suspension). Projected Spurs starters were De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie and Victor Wembanyama. Projected Pistons starters were Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren.
Additional matchup analysis listed a number of defensive and usage details: the Spurs were ranked third in defense and the Pistons second on the season; Detroit's defense over its five-game winning streak was cited at 102. 9 points per 100 possessions; the Pistons were described as third in paint points allowed while the Spurs were seventh in one passage and elsewhere the Pistons were described as ranking second in paint points while the Spurs were 11th. The Spurs were called an excellent transition defense with a better transition offense, while the Pistons were described as average in transition but excellent in the halfcourt. Analysts noted the Pistons had not allowed a 25-point average to a power forward/center all year, with Nikola Jokic listed as the only center to score more than 20 per game against them. De'Aaron Fox was listed as getting a tough matchup with Ausar Thompson likely to guard him and was noted as driving just 11. 2 times per game over his last 10. Stephon Castle was noted as driving more than Fox over his last 10, with recent minutes listed as 25 on Saturday and 21 on Thursday; his minutes had been cut at the end of the break but were expected to return to normal. Devin Vassell's usage and minutes were described as down lately, and Dylan Harper was mentioned as a bench option who could see some usage though minutes likely would be limited.
A matchups column by Mike Gallagher dated Feb 23, 2026 carried those projections and notes, and a separate line in that coverage declared, "The 2026 Golf Season is Underway. " Other headlines carried in the same feed included: "Suns reveal injury timeline for Dillon Brooks following broken hand, " "Team USA eyeing Kon Knueppel for 2028 Olympic team, " "LaMelo Ball focused on winning after franchise record performance, " "LeBron James adds another milestone to the history books in loss vs. Celtics, " "Victor Wembanyama teases dunk contest appearance after viscous slam, " and "Jordan Ott talks Devin Booker's injury following loss vs. Spurs. "
Disciplinary notes concluded that the NBA had suspended center Isaiah Stewart for seven games earlier this month after he left the bench during a fight in Detroit's game at Charlotte and that Stewart was still serving that suspension during San Antonio's visit. Jalen Duren was forced to sit for two games for initiating the on-court altercation against the Spurs.
Monday's result left the Spurs riding a notable streak and left Detroit seeking to take the next step — the Pistons are trying to advance in the playoffs for the first time since 2008 after last season's turnaround, when they ended a 15-game losing streak in the playoffs in the first round against the New York Knicks but were eliminated.
