Still plenty on the line as Spurs host 76ers
The San Antonio Spurs look to rebound from a rare loss and get back on track in their chase for the top seed in the upcoming NBA playoffs when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.
The Spurs (59-19) head home for their final four games of the regular season after a 136-134 loss in overtime in Denver on Saturday. The setback snapped San Antonio's 11-game winning streak but was just the Spurs' third loss since Feb. 1; two of those defeats have come to the Nuggets.
San Antonio, which is guaranteed to finish no worse than second in the West, would need to win out and have Oklahoma City lose three times in the final week to pass the Thunder for the top seed in the conference. The Spurs need two wins to claim home court advantage over East-leading Detroit should those two play in the NBA Finals.
First things, first, as San Antonio must focus on the task at hand after the loss in Denver. Victor Wembanyama, per the norm, led the Spurs on Saturday, amassing 34 points and 18 rebounds while going 16-for-17 from the foul line, with the 16 made free throws a career high.
"I think it was an amazing game -- very fun," Wembanyama said afterward. "One of the most fun games. I wish we could've closed it out. My conclusion of this game is that it was good for us. It was a real test against a team that's actually playing for something right now."
Stephon Castle added 20 points, Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie scored 18 apiece, De'Aaron Fox contributed 14 points, Dylan Harper had 12 points and Keldon Johnson 10 points in the loss, just San Antonio's third in 30 games.
The Spurs took the setback in stride, preferring to look at the positives and taking it as part of their learning curve.
"A game like that was something that we needed," Champagnie said. "When we go back and watch the film there will be a lot of valuable things we can take from that ... not the outcome we want but there's some positives in there."
The 76ers (43-35) head to the Alamo City after a 116-95 loss at home to Detroit on Saturday. Philadelphia shot just 34.2% in the second half when it managed only 33 points after halftime and was led by Tyrese Maxey's 23 points and 20 from Paul George (18 of those in the first half).
The 76ers, who were without Joel Embiid as they played the second half of a back-to-back, were outrebounded 45-33 and outscored by 10 points in the paint.
Philadelphia, which has been shackled with injuries this season, had a two-game winning streak snapped but has still won six of its past 10 as it battles to avoid the postseason play-in tournament. The 76ers are currently in seventh place, half a game behind Toronto for an automatic spot in the playoffs with its next three contests on the road.
"We're trying to get in," said George, who played in a back-to-back for the first time this season as he works his way to full strength from a knee injury. "We don't have the luxury to try to size up who's ahead of us. We're trying to get in, at least from my point of view."
San Antonio took the first game between the teams this season 131-91 in Philadelphia on March 3.