Victor Wembanyama confirmed why he is broadly seen as probably the most impactful defender in basketball.
The Detroit Pistons, alternatively, could not overcome one in all their largest weaknesses.
The Pistons fell to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday at Little Caesars Arena, 114-103, ending their five-game win streak firstly of a vital week of residence video games.
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With Wembanyama defending the paint with six blocks, the Pistons (42-14) have been held to 37.7% capturing (40-for-106) – their worst proportion of the season, under the 37.9% they shot towards the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 27. They additionally have been poor from 3-point vary, flattening simply seven of 36 makes an attempt (19.4%). It tied their third-worst proportion of the season.
The Spurs (41-16) have been lights-out from 3 flattening 18 of their 40 makes an attempt (45%). They have been led by Devin Vassell (28 factors, 10-for-14 total, 7-for-11 from 3) and Wembanyama (21 factors, 17 rebounds and 6 blocks). Julian Champagnie added 17 factors and knocked down 5 3-pointers, and Stephon Castle had 16 factors and 11 assists.
Cade Cunningham had one in all his worst video games of the season, ending with 16 factors on 5-for-26 capturing (19.2%), 10 assists, three blocks and two steals. Jalen Duren led the Pistons with 25 factors and 14 rebounds.
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The groups will rematch March 5 in San Antonio.
The Pistons host the defending NBA champion and Western Conference 1-seed Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday evening.
Pistons push Victor Wembanyama, however he owns 2nd half defensively
Detroit Pistons ahead Ausar Thompson goes up for a shot towards Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs throughout the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena on Feb. 23, 2026, in Detroit.
It doubtless was one of the crucial uncomfortable halves the 7-foot-4 famous person has endured all season. The Pistons typically crossed the road so far as physicality – they pushed him, bumped him, despatched him to the ground and denied him any area to get comfy when going through the rim.
It was a playoff-like ambiance, and the referees have been content material to let each groups batter one another, which the Pistons capitalized on. At halftime, Wembanyama had seven factors (on 2-for-9 capturing), six rebounds, zero assists and three turnovers. Duren, Ausar Thompson and Paul Reed made it their responsibility to make each second of Wembanyama’s time on the ground troublesome.
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The Spurs struggled towards the Pistons’ physicality inside, making simply 10 of their 28 makes an attempt (35.7%) contained in the arc throughout the first half. But they made up for it with lights-out 3-point capturing from Vassell and Champagnie: The duo mixed for 30 factors on 9-for-12 capturing from behind the arc at halftime to steer San Antonio to a 57-55 lead.
The sport started to get away from the Pistons within the third quarter, which they misplaced 26-20 and have been held to 7-for-24 capturing (29.2%). Wembanyama’s mere presence altered their most well-liked technique of assault as one of many league’s most prolific groups at scoring within the paint. His sky-high swat on a layup try by Cunningham halfway by means of the interval was one in all many examples of him denying alternatives on the rim.
Castle, 21, additionally did a powerful defensive job on Cunningham, who endured one in all his worst performances of the season.
With their offense bottled and the Spurs flattening 3-pointer after 3-pointer, the Pistons couldn’t hold tempo within the second half. Castle, the No. 4 choose in 2024 out of UConn, is the uncommon guard outfitted to defend Cunningham, standing practically 6-7 with a 6-9 wingspan.
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Spurs knock down 3-pointers, Pistons at their worst
The 3-point shot has been an Achilles’ heel for the Pistons this season, and it bit them on Monday – notably because the Spurs have been cashing from the corners. They greater than doubled the Pistons’ complete, making 18 to their seven. Vassell and Champagnie repeatedly punished the Pistons’ protection for leaving them open and exceeded the Pistons’ 3-point complete by themselves.
The Pistons did little to handle their lack of capturing on the commerce deadline, and their lone acquisition – Kevin Huerter, a strong shooter for his career however in a hunch this season – didn’t play for the third straight sport. He has performed simply 48 complete minutes with Detroit in 4 video games because the Feb. 3 trade from Chicago.
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell shoots on Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham within the second half at Little Caesars Arena, Feb. 23, 2026, in Detroit.
Vassell stepped up because the Pistons did their finest to ice Wembanyama out of the offense, and singlehandedly matched their complete by making seven of his 11 3-point makes an attempt.
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Beyond poor capturing, the Pistons additionally suffered from not having their very own model of a participant like Vassell who may persistently generate his personal shot.
Duren led them in scoring and had an assertive begin to the fourth quarter, going by means of Wembanyama for consecutive and-1 probabilities. Otherwise it was one of many Pistons’ worst offensive performances of the season. Cunningham wasn’t capable of set up a rhythm and the remainder of the roster was unable to select up the slack.
Pistons schedule, upcoming video games
Full Pistons 82-game schedule for the 2025-26 common season.
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Wednesday: vs. Thunder, 7:30 p.m., ESPN, FSND.
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Friday: vs. Cavaliers, 7 p.m., ESPN, FSND.
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Sunday: at Magic, 6 p.m., FSND.
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March 3: at Cavaliers, 7 p.m. (Isaiah Stewart eligible), FSND.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky and/or X @omarisankofa.
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This article initially appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons game pestered by Victor Wembanyama in loss to Spurs