x
Breaking News
More () »

Victor Wembanyama has 31 points, 12 rebounds as Spurs top Pacers 117-105

Victor Wembanyama had 31 points and 12 rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs past the Indiana Pacers on 117-105.
Credit: Eric Gay, AP
Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin is blocked by San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama as he tries to score during an NBA game, March 3, 2024.

SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama had 31 points and 12 rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs past the Indiana Pacers on 117-105 on Sunday night.

Wembanyama added six blocks, six assists and a steal while going 3 for 4 on 3-pointers. The 7-foot-4 rookie has posted five or more blocks in five of his past six games.

T.J. McConnell had 26 points, Pascal Siakam added 21 and Myles Turner had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers, who have lost three of four.

Malaki Branham had 18 points for the Spurs while starting in place of Julian Champagnie, who has a sprained right ankle. Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson each had 17 points.

Credit: Eric Gay, AP
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama shoots over Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner and forward Aaron Nesmith during an NBA game, March 3, 2024.

San Antonio won its second straight after losing five in a row as part of a 1-8 trip last month when its home arena was being used for an annual rodeo.

The Spurs are last in the Western Conference and have not won three games in a row this season. Each of their three previous two-game win streaks was followed by a skid of four games or more.

Indiana entered the game leading the league in scoring at 123.6 points per game but labored through the first three quarters.

Credit: Eric Gay, AP
Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner scores past San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell during an NBA game in San Antonio, Sunday, March 3, 2024.

Trailing by 13 points, the Pacers went on a 13-1 run to pull within 98-97 midway through the fourth. The Spurs responded with a 10-0 run fueled by six points from Wembanyama.

Indiana erased a 12-point deficit two minutes into the second half, taking its first lead at 55-54 on Turner’s 3-pointer.

As he did all game, Wembanyama led the Spurs' response. He assisted on Branham’s 3-pointer and followed with a 3 of his own to put San Antonio back up 68-63 midway through the third.

Indiana was held to a season-low 16 points in the opening quarter while shooting 1 for 13 on 3s. Its previous low was 17 points against Boston on Jan. 6.

McConnell had 12 points in the first quarter.

UP NEXT

Pacers: At Dallas on Tuesday night.

Spurs: At Houston on Tuesday night.

San Antonio 117, Indiana 105

INDIANA (105) — Nesmith 1-7 2-2 4, Siakam 10-17 0-0 21, Turner 6-17 0-0 16, Haliburton 4-16 4-4 12, Nembhard 3-7 0-0 7, Toppin 1-3 0-0 2, Smith 1-3 2-2 4, Mathurin 2-8 9-13 13, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, McConnell 13-15 0-0 26. Totals: 41-93 17-21 105.

SAN ANTONIO (117) — Branham 7-13 2-2 18, Sochan 6-8 0-0 12, Wembanyama 11-17 6-7 31, Jones 0-2 2-2 2, Vassell 7-20 1-2 17, Barlow 0-0 0-0 0, Cissoko 0-0 0-0 0, Mamukelashvili 0-0 0-0 0, Osman 0-1 0-0 0, Collins 5-8 1-2 11, K.Johnson 7-13 0-0 17, Wesley 3-3 3-4 9. Totals: 46-85 15-19 117.

Indiana 16 32 29 28 — 105

San Antonio 26 26 34 31 — 117

3-Point Goals—Indiana 6-30 (Turner 4-9, Nembhard 1-2, Siakam 1-4, Toppin 0-1, Mathurin 0-2, Smith 0-2, Nesmith 0-4, Haliburton 0-6), San Antonio 10-25 (Wembanyama 3-4, K.Johnson 3-7, Branham 2-6, Vassell 2-7, Osman 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Indiana 42 (Turner 10), San Antonio 45 (Wembanyama 12). Assists—Indiana 20 (Haliburton 8), San Antonio 33 (Branham, Wembanyama 6). Total Fouls—Indiana 14, San Antonio 17. A—18,027 (18,581).

Before You Leave, Check This Out