Victor Wembanyama stuffs stat sheet as Spurs smack Pacers

Field Level Media|published: Sun 3rd March, 21:48 2024

Mar 3, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Jalen Smith (25) dribbles against San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) in the first half at Frost Bank Center. credits: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Victor Wembanyama strutted his stuff while amassing 31 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, six blocked shots and a steal to help the San Antonio Spurs to a rousing 117-105 win over the visiting Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

San Antonio led by 13 points early in the fourth quarter before the Pacers rallied to within 103-102 on a T.J. McConnell jumper in the lane with 4:56 to play. But the Spurs had the answers down the stretch, scoring the next 10 points to repel Indiana's surge as they held on to win their second straight game.

It's just the fourth time this season that San Antonio has won back-to-back contests.

Malaki Branham added 18 points for the Spurs, with Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson scoring 17 apiece, Jeremy Sochan tallying 12 and Zach Collins hitting for 11.

McConnell led the Pacers with a season-high 26 points, while Pascal Siakam added 21. Myles Turner produced 16 points and 10 rebounds, Bennedict Mathurin scored 13 points and Tyrese Haliburton had 12. Indiana has lost two straight games.

The Spurs sprinted out of the gate, taking a 19-7 lead when Vassell canned a jumper at the 4:50 mark of the first quarter. Indiana culled the deficit to eight points after McConnell's jumper with 3:37 to play in the period before San Antonio ended the quarter up 26-16.

McConnell kept up his hot pace, as his pullup jumper with 6:30 left in the second quarter brought the Pacers within 37-31. San Antonio rebuilt its advantage to 10 points on three occasions in the period, the last on Sochan's layup at the 3:08 mark. Indiana swung back, pulling within one before Wembanyama poured in a 3-pointer to grant the Spurs a 52-48 edge at the break.

Wembanyama's 15 points before halftime led all scorers, with Vassell adding 10. McConnell led the Pacers with 14 first-half points while Siakam added 11 for Indiana.

Indiana surged to the front via a 9-2 run to start the third quarter, with the outburst capped by Turner's layup with 9:29 left. The Pacers led 63-60 before San Antonio reeled off an 11-0 run to go back on top. The Spurs led 86-77 heading to the final period.

—Field Level Media