Short-handed Spurs topple injury-depleted Pistons 123-95 to close disappointing seasons
SAN ANTONIO (AP) Sandro Mamukelashvili had 18 points and the San Antonio Spurs routed the Detroit Pistons 123-95 on Sunday to close disappointing seasons that both franchises hope will lead to promising futures.
Blake Wesley added 17 points for San Antonio. Zach Collins had 17 points and nine rebounds in 16 minutes before injuring his shoulder early in the second half.
“It was a good end to the season, for sure,” Spurs point guard Tre Jones said. “We were playing better and better throughout the entire year. Each month we were getting better as a team, as a whole. Playing more and more like the way we wanted to play, both offensively and defensively.”
San Antonio was without Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick in the draft and expected Rookie of the Year. Detroit was without Cade Cunningham, the top pick in 2021.
The Pistons (14-68) finished with the worst record in franchise history. The previous worst was 16-66 in 1980.
“In my opinion, we have dug the trenches for the foundation,” Detroit coach Monty Williams said. “This summer, we’ve got to pour the cement and see whose fingerprints are going to be in it.”
The Spurs (22-60) matched last season’s record, which was the third worst in franchise history but enabled them to draft Wembanyama.
The 7-foot-3 rookie from France exceeded all expectations, but San Antonio was unable to keep up with his success for much of the season.
The Spurs started poorly, including a franchise worst 18-game losing streak from Nov. 5 to Dec. 15. But San Antonio finished on an upswing, going 11-12 following their annual Rodeo Road Trip and won seven of their final 11 games.
“We grew throughout the year,” Wesley said. “Even through the ups and downs, we continued to play great, play hard and just be ourselves and be great teammates. I feel like after Rodeo Road Trip we gained a lot of confidence.”
The win coupled with Portland’s 121-82 loss to Sacramento gives the Trail Blazers the worst record in the West. The Spurs also elevated to fifth among the league’s worst records, which lowers their odds of finishing with a top-three pick in the NBA draft.
“(Tanking is) not in the equation at all,” Popovich said.
Coming off an improbable 121-120 victory over then top-seeded Denver on Friday in a game in which it trailed by 23 points, San Antonio continued its charge to the finish.
The recent surge overwhelmed Detroit.
The Spurs shot 54% from the field, had eight players score in double figures and had 33 assists on 49 baskets.
James Wiseman had 21 points to lead Detroit. Marcus Sasser had 17 points and Jared Rhoden added 16.
Both teams played the finale with a skeleton crew due to injuries.
In addition to Cunningham, Detroit was without Jalen Duren, Simone Fontecchio, Isaiah Stewart and Ausar Thompson.
Along with Wembanyama, the Spurs were without Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, Malaki Branham, Cedi Osman and Dominik Barlow. The Spurs lost Collins two minutes into the second half with a right shoulder injury.
“He’ll get an MRI (Monday),” Popovich said. “He’s got a big bump on that shoulder. Hopefully, it’s just rehab.”
Without six of its top eight scorers to start the game, San Antonio still managed to shoot 62% from the field in the second quarter and lead by 27 points.
“They play hard, they play for each,” Popovich said. “That's why I've said all the things that I've said all year about them. No need to repeat it, but it's a hell of a good group.”
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | James Wiseman vs. Zach Collins (Marcus Sasser gains possession) | |||
11:47 | Zach Collins shooting foul (James Wiseman draws the foul) | |||
11:47 | +1 | James Wiseman makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 1-0 | |
11:47 | +1 | James Wiseman makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-0 | |
11:35 | +2 | Julian Champagnie makes two point driving reverse layup (Blake Wesley assists) | 2-2 | |
11:18 | Marcus Sasser turnover (traveling) | |||
11:06 | Zach Collins misses two point jump shot | |||
11:01 | Troy Brown Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:47 | James Wiseman misses two point cutting dunk | |||
10:46 | Tre Jones defensive rebound | |||
10:31 | Tre Jones misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
10:29 | Troy Brown Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:22 | +2 | Jaden Ivey makes two point driving finger roll layup | 4-2 | |
10:11 | +3 | Sandro Mamukelashvili makes three point jump shot (Zach Collins assists) | 4-5 | |
9:57 | +2 | Marcus Sasser makes two point driving floating jump shot | 6-5 | |
9:46 | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | |||
9:46 | James Wiseman defensive rebound | |||
9:36 | Tre Jones personal foul (Marcus Sasser draws the foul) | |||
9:31 | James Wiseman misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
9:27 | Blake Wesley defensive rebound | |||
9:15 | +2 | Sandro Mamukelashvili makes two point driving finger roll layup (Julian Champagnie assists) | 6-7 | |
8:58 | Chimezie Metu turnover (lost ball) (Zach Collins steals) | |||
8:53 | Tre Jones misses three point running jump shot | |||
8:48 | Zach Collins offensive rebound | |||
8:48 | Zach Collins misses two point putback layup | |||
8:48 | James Wiseman defensive rebound | |||
8:47 | Zach Collins personal foul (Chimezie Metu draws the foul) | |||
8:38 | +2 | James Wiseman makes two point pullup jump shot (Marcus Sasser assists) | 8-7 | |
8:20 | Troy Brown Jr. blocks Julian Champagnie's two point driving finger roll layup | |||
8:17 | Jaden Ivey defensive rebound | |||
8:17 | Jaden Ivey misses two point floating jump shot | |||
8:15 | James Wiseman offensive rebound | |||
8:14 | +2 | James Wiseman makes two point putback layup | 10-7 | |
8:14 | Blake Wesley shooting foul (James Wiseman draws the foul) | |||
8:14 | James Wiseman misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
8:11 | Sidy Cissoko defensive rebound | |||
8:06 | +2 | Julian Champagnie makes two point running dunk (Sidy Cissoko assists) | 10-9 | |
7:39 | Jaden Ivey misses three point jump shot | |||
7:39 | Pistons offensive rebound | |||
7:23 | +2 | Jaden Ivey makes two point driving finger roll layup (Troy Brown Jr. assists) | 12-9 | |
7:05 | James Wiseman blocks Sandro Mamukelashvili's two point layup | |||
7:02 | Chimezie Metu defensive rebound | |||
6:59 | Chimezie Metu turnover (bad pass) (Blake Wesley steals) | |||
6:54 | +2 | Sidy Cissoko makes two point running dunk (Blake Wesley assists) | 12-11 | |
6:45 | Troy Brown Jr. misses two point pullup bank jump shot | |||
6:42 | Sidy Cissoko defensive rebound | |||
6:34 | +2 | Blake Wesley makes two point driving finger roll layup | 12-13 | |
6:34 | Pistons 60 second timeout | |||
6:19 | Jaden Ivey misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
6:16 | Tre Jones defensive rebound | |||
6:14 | Jared Rhoden personal foul (Sidy Cissoko draws the foul) | |||
6:07 | Sandro Mamukelashvili turnover (bad pass) (James Wiseman steals) | |||
5:58 | Chimezie Metu misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
5:55 | James Wiseman offensive rebound | |||
5:51 | +3 | Jared Rhoden makes three point jump shot (Jaden Ivey assists) | 15-13 | |
5:25 | +3 | Devonte' Graham makes three point jump shot (Blake Wesley assists) | 15-16 | |
5:00 | +2 | Jaden Ivey makes two point pullup jump shot (Jared Rhoden assists) | 17-16 | |
4:41 | Sandro Mamukelashvili misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
4:39 | James Wiseman defensive rebound | |||
4:32 | Jared Rhoden misses three point jump shot | |||
4:28 | Sidy Cissoko defensive rebound | |||
4:22 | Julian Champagnie misses two point running finger roll layup | |||
4:19 | Sandro Mamukelashvili offensive rebound | |||
4:19 | +2 | Sandro Mamukelashvili makes two point tip layup | 17-18 | |
4:13 | Jaden Ivey turnover (lost ball) (Sidy Cissoko steals) | |||
4:08 | +2 | Blake Wesley makes two point running dunk (Sandro Mamukelashvili assists) | 17-20 | |
3:53 | Malachi Flynn misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:52 | Pistons offensive rebound | |||
3:51 | Malachi Flynn turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
3:36 | Sandro Mamukelashvili misses three point jump shot | |||
3:32 | David Duke Jr. offensive rebound | |||
3:29 | Devonte' Graham misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
3:26 | Sidy Cissoko offensive rebound | |||
3:22 | +2 | Sidy Cissoko makes two point driving reverse dunk | 17-22 | |
3:08 | +2 | Evan Fournier makes two point driving floating jump shot | 19-22 | |
2:57 | Sidy Cissoko turnover (lost ball) (Troy Brown Jr. steals) | |||
2:47 | Evan Fournier misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
2:45 | Sandro Mamukelashvili defensive rebound | |||
2:38 | Jared Rhoden shooting foul (Sandro Mamukelashvili draws the foul) | |||
2:38 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
2:38 | +1 | Sandro Mamukelashvili makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-23 | |
2:38 | Sandro Mamukelashvili misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
2:35 | Taj Gibson defensive rebound | |||
2:17 | Troy Brown Jr. misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
2:15 | Jamaree Bouyea defensive rebound | |||
2:03 | +3 | David Duke Jr. makes three point jump shot (Devonte' Graham assists) | 19-26 | |
1:48 | Marcus Sasser misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
1:42 | Sidy Cissoko defensive rebound | |||
1:36 | David Duke Jr. turnover (kicked ball violation) | |||
1:22 | +2 | Taj Gibson makes two point jump shot (Marcus Sasser assists) | 21-26 | |
1:03 | Jamaree Bouyea misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
1:01 | Jaylen Nowell defensive rebound | |||
0:57 | Sidy Cissoko blocks Jaylen Nowell's two point running finger roll layup | |||
0:57 | Marcus Sasser offensive rebound | |||
0:52 | +2 | Jaylen Nowell makes two point driving floating jump shot (Marcus Sasser assists) | 23-26 | |
0:39 | Jamaree Bouyea turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
0:27 | Marcus Sasser misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
0:27 | Sandro Mamukelashvili defensive rebound | |||
0:03 | +3 | Devonte' Graham makes three point stepback jump shot | 23-29 | |
0:00 | Evan Fournier misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:00 | Pistons offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:43 | +2 | Jamaree Bouyea makes two point driving finger roll layup | 23-31 | |
11:27 | Marcus Sasser misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
11:23 | Taj Gibson offensive rebound | |||
11:23 | Taj Gibson misses two point tip layup | |||
11:22 | Zach Collins defensive rebound | |||
11:19 | Zach Collins misses two point hook shot | |||
11:18 | Zach Collins offensive rebound | |||
11:18 | Zach Collins misses two point tip layup | |||
11:16 | Troy Brown Jr. defensive rebound | |||
11:06 | Evan Fournier misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
11:02 | Jamaree Bouyea defensive rebound | |||
10:54 | Devonte' Graham turnover (bad pass) (Evan Fournier steals) | |||
10:46 | Troy Brown Jr. misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
10:46 | Jamaree Bouyea defensive rebound | |||
10:41 | +3 | Devonte' Graham makes three point running jump shot (Jamaree Bouyea assists) | 23-34 | |
10:20 | Jaylen Nowell misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
10:17 | Jamaree Bouyea defensive rebound | |||
10:14 | Devonte' Graham misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
10:10 | Jaylen Nowell defensive rebound | |||
10:08 | Jaylen Nowell turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
9:53 | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Tre Jones assists) | 23-36 | |
9:34 | James Wiseman misses two point floating jump shot | |||
9:32 | Zach Collins defensive rebound | |||
9:12 | +2 | RaiQuan Gray makes two point pullup jump shot | 23-38 | |
8:58 | Evan Fournier misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
8:58 | RaiQuan Gray defensive rebound | |||
8:50 | RaiQuan Gray misses two point driving layup | |||
8:50 | James Wiseman defensive rebound | |||
8:46 | Jamaree Bouyea shooting foul (Jaylen Nowell draws the foul) | |||
8:46 | +1 | Jaylen Nowell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-38 | |
8:46 | +1 | Jaylen Nowell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-38 | |
8:31 | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point driving finger roll layup (Tre Jones assists) | 25-40 | |
8:21 | Chimezie Metu misses three point jump shot | |||
8:21 | Tre Jones defensive rebound | |||
8:03 | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point driving floating jump shot (RaiQuan Gray assists) | 25-42 | |
7:49 | James Wiseman misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
7:47 | James Wiseman offensive rebound | |||
7:46 | +2 | James Wiseman makes two point hook shot | 27-42 | |
7:27 | Zach Collins misses three point jump shot | |||
7:24 | Chimezie Metu defensive rebound | |||
7:11 | Malachi Flynn misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
7:08 | Blake Wesley defensive rebound | |||
7:03 | Evan Fournier shooting foul (Zach Collins draws the foul) | |||
7:03 | +1 | Zach Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-43 | |
7:03 | +1 | Zach Collins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-44 | |
6:43 | Jaylen Nowell misses three point jump shot | |||
6:42 | Tre Jones defensive rebound | |||
6:34 | +3 | Julian Champagnie makes three point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 27-47 | |
6:32 | Pistons 60 second timeout | |||
6:16 | +3 | Chimezie Metu makes three point jump shot (Jaden Ivey assists) | 30-47 | |
5:56 | RaiQuan Gray misses three point jump shot | |||
5:54 | James Wiseman defensive rebound | |||
5:44 | +2 | Malachi Flynn makes two point pullup jump shot | 32-47 | |
5:22 | +3 | Zach Collins makes three point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 32-50 | |
5:06 | +2 | Malachi Flynn makes two point pullup jump shot | 34-50 | |
4:51 | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point jump shot (Julian Champagnie assists) | 34-52 | |
4:36 | Malachi Flynn misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:33 | Blake Wesley defensive rebound | |||
4:23 | +2 | RaiQuan Gray makes two point driving dunk (Zach Collins assists) | 34-54 | |
4:10 | James Wiseman misses two point jump shot | |||
4:08 | RaiQuan Gray defensive rebound | |||
4:02 | Julian Champagnie turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
3:49 | James Wiseman turnover (bad pass) (Blake Wesley steals) | |||
3:44 | +3 | Tre Jones makes three point running jump shot (Blake Wesley assists) | 34-57 | |
3:29 | Chimezie Metu misses three point jump shot | |||
3:26 | Zach Collins defensive rebound | |||
3:21 | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point running finger roll layup | 34-59 | |
3:06 | Jaden Ivey misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
3:04 | Tre Jones defensive rebound | |||
3:01 | Blake Wesley turnover (lost ball) (Malachi Flynn steals) | |||
2:51 | Malachi Flynn misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
2:47 | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | |||
2:44 | James Wiseman shooting foul (Zach Collins draws the foul) | |||
2:44 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
2:44 | +1 | Zach Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-60 | |
2:44 | +1 | Zach Collins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-61 | |
2:29 | James Wiseman misses two point cutting layup | |||
2:27 | Tre Jones defensive rebound | |||
2:14 | Sandro Mamukelashvili turnover (bad pass) (James Wiseman steals) | |||
2:07 |