SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Keldon Johnson and Dylan Harper each scored 24 points and the San Antonio Spurs never trailed in a 134-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.
San Antonio All-Star Victor Wembanyama had 20 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 blocks. Harper, making his first NBA start, shot 9-for-13 from the field.
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Andrew Nembhard scored 25 points and Jarace Walker added 21 for the Pacers, whose losing streak reached 16 games. After losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games of last season’s Finals, Indiana fell to an overall record of 15-56, ranking last in the Eastern Conference.
The Spurs have won 21 of their past 23 games to improve to 53-18, their most wins since 2017 when they went 61-21.
The Pacers were without three players and 10 injured on Saturday. Nine of the 10 players involved played in the game, except for Ethan Thompson, who is in the G League.
Spurs defender Devin Vassell was ruled out 15 minutes before kick-off after straining his right hamstring during warm-ups.
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Wembanyama was upgraded to questionable about 30 minutes before the start of the game after warming up before the game.
San Antonio Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Wembanyama has been dealing with right ankle soreness recently but showed no signs of discomfort during his active 26 minutes.
After failing to get Wembanya to fake two shots at the basket, Nembhard had to pass the ball to Pascal Siakam. Siakam also failed to use a fake and then disappeared, only to be blocked by Wembanya and Carter Bryant caught the ball. Wembanyama rewarded Bryant with an alley-oop pass off a pick-and-roll on the next play, and the Spurs rookie converted for a layup three minutes into the second quarter.
The Spurs shot 55% from the field and 38% from three-point range.
Next
Pacers: At Orlando on Monday.
Spurs: At Miami on Monday.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
