Victor Wembanyama had 19 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocks as the visiting San Antonio Spurs dominated from the opening minutes and posted a wire-to-wire 123-98 victory Wednesday night over the injury-riddled Memphis Grizzlies.
The Spurs (55-18) improved to 23-2 since Feb. 1, the best record in the NBA during that stretch, and won their seventh straight as they continue to pursue Oklahoma City for the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs. San Antonio, winner of 11 of its last 12, improved to 27-11 on the road and trimmed first-place OKC’s lead to two games following the Thunder’s 119-109 loss at Boston.
Devin Vassell finished with 19 points and seven rebounds for the Spurs, while Keldon Johnson and Stephon Castle scored 15 apiece. Castle had nine assists and Johnson had seven rebounds. Julian Champagnie contributed 13 points and eight boards.
Wembanyama added to an impressive week. He had 26 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in Monday’s 25-point win against Miami.
GG Jackson had 20 points and seven rebounds to lead Memphis (24-48), which lost for the 12th time in 13 games. Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored 17 points and DeJon Jarreau added 15.
In addition to season-ending injuries sidelining Ja Morant, Zach Edey, Scotty Pippen Jr., Brandon Clarke and Kentavious-Caldwell Pope, Memphis veterans Ty Jerome (left ankle) and Jaylen Wells (right toe) missed Wednesday’s game.
With all five starters sitting out the entire fourth quarter, the Spurs still managed to extend their lead to as many as 39 points twice, the second time with 9:53 remaining on a Johnson floater. The Spurs outrebounded Memphis 59-33.
San Antonio was overpowering from the outset. The Spurs used a 17-0 run during a 2:35 stretch in the first quarter to build a 22-4 advantage with 6:53 left in the period. Castle closed the run with an emphatic windmill dunk.
The Spurs used a similar run to pull away in the third quarter, one in which they outscored the Grizzlies, 41-20. After Memphis had trimmed the deficit to 15 points (64-49) on a Prosper 3-pointer, San Antonio scored 11 straight for a 75-49 lead with 7:39 to go. The Spurs increased their advantage to 34 points late in the quarter and led by the same margin — 98-64 — after Wembanyama drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
