Spurs’ perimeter shooting and Wembanyama’s defense power 114-103 road win over Pistons on Feb. 23
San Antonio extends winning streak with balanced scoring and fourth-quarter control in Detroit
The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Detroit Pistons 114-103 on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena, using a combination of efficient three-point shooting and rim protection to pull away late. The result moved San Antonio to 41-16 on the season and dropped Detroit to 42-14.
The game’s defining separation came from the perimeter. San Antonio converted 18 three-pointers to Detroit’s seven, building a scoring advantage that held even as the Pistons tried to impose a more physical, paint-focused style. After Detroit led 27-24 at the end of the first quarter, the Spurs won each of the next three periods, including a 31-28 edge in the fourth to close out the road victory.
San Antonio’s offensive efficiency was driven by shot-making from deep, while Detroit’s offense stalled under pressure and missed jumpers.
Vassell’s seven threes lead a five-starter, double-figure effort
Devin Vassell led all scorers with 28 points, hitting seven of his 11 three-point attempts and finishing 10-of-14 from the field. The Spurs placed all five starters in double figures, a distribution that limited Detroit’s ability to load up on a single option.
- Devin Vassell: 28 points (7-of-11 from three)
- Victor Wembanyama: 21 points, 17 rebounds, six blocks
- Stephon Castle: 16 points, 11 assists
- Julian Champagnie: 17 points
- De’Aaron Fox: 10 points, seven rebounds, seven assists
Wembanyama’s line illustrated the dual nature of his impact. While his shooting night was uneven (6-of-16 overall), he repeatedly changed Detroit’s decision-making at the rim and helped stabilize possessions with 17 rebounds.
Detroit’s interior production kept it close, but perimeter struggles proved costly
The Pistons received a strong interior performance from center Jalen Duren, who scored 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting and added 14 rebounds. However, Detroit’s primary creator, Cade Cunningham, was limited to 16 points on 5-of-26 shooting while also recording 10 assists, a stat line reflecting both heavy usage and reduced scoring efficiency.
Detroit remained within reach through three quarters, aided by defensive pressure and second-chance opportunities, but the combination of San Antonio’s spacing, timely shooting and late-game execution made the difference. With both teams among the league’s top records, the matchup offered a postseason-style contrast in approaches: Detroit leaning on physicality and paint scoring, San Antonio leveraging spacing and a high-volume three-point attack backed by elite shot deterrence.
The Spurs continue their road trip next, carrying a nine-game winning streak out of Detroit.