NBA Notes: Spurs, Victor Wembanyama, Pistons, Jalen Duren, Thunder

Spurs

Victor Wembanyama is on one.

He dropped 41 points for the second straight game, adding 18 rebounds and three blocks as the Spurs beat the Warriors, 127-113.

Wembanyama wasted no time. He scored 10 of San Antonio’s first 14 points and helped set the tone in a 17-3 start. He finished 16-of-22 from the field in his fourth 40-point game this season.

San Antonio has now won 10 straight and 15 of its last 16.

De’Aaron Fox added 11 points after briefly exiting with a shot to the face. Seven Spurs finished in double figures.

San Antonio (58-18) is chasing the Thunder for the top seed in the Western Conference, sits 2.5 games back.

Pistons

The Pistons keep finding ways.

As relayed by Vincent Goodwill of ESPN, Detroit is leaning on depth with Cade Cunningham sidelined.

Jalen Duren has taken on more scoring responsibility. Daniss Jenkins has stepped up with added minutes.

And the defense is back.

Detroit holds a four-game lead over the Celtics in the East, with the tiebreaker. The focus now is maintaining structure before Cunningham returns for the playoffs.

Thunder

The top seed isn’t locked up yet.

The Thunder have gone 18-2 over their last 20 games, but the Spurs aren’t going away. As noted by Anthony Slater of ESPN, Oklahoma City still leads by 2.5 games entering Wednesday.

But there’s pressure.

San Antonio owns the head-to-head tiebreaker. And the Thunder still have a tough closing stretch, including games against the Lakers, Clippers and Nuggets.

Handle business, and it’s theirs. Slip up, and things get interesting.