The San Antonio Spurs are coming off their most impressive offensive performance in two seasons as they prepare to face the Indiana Pacers for the second game in the NBA’s Paris Games on Saturday.
In the series opener on Thursday, the Spurs secured a dominant 140-110 victory, largely thanks to an explosive third quarter where they outscored the Pacers 45-23. This win marked San Antonio’s highest point total of the season and their largest since a 142-point overtime win against Sacramento on April 2, 2023.
The Paris Games have been a triumphant homecoming for Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs’ 21-year-old superstar center. Wembanyama delivered a spectacular performance on Thursday, scoring 30 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, dishing out six assists, and blocking five shots in just 32 minutes. He even showcased his flair by tossing a pass to himself off the glass for a dunk early in the fourth quarter.
San Antonio entered the final quarter with a commanding 105-80 lead and never allowed the Pacers to close the gap to less than 18 points. Devin Vassell contributed 25 points, Harrison Barnes added 20, and Jeremy Sochan chipped in 13, helping the Spurs snap a three-game losing streak. The team shot an impressive 60.4 percent from the field and made 18 of 36 attempts from beyond the arc.
On the other side, Indiana struggled in the second half, shooting just 45.4 percent for the game. Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 24 points, while Pascal Siakam scored 18, Myles Turner added 14, and both Tyrese Haliburton and Obi Toppin chipped in 13 points each.
The Pacers saw their two-game winning streak come to an end with the loss on Thursday, which was only their second defeat in the last 10 games. Prior to this game, Indiana had allowed more than 115 points just once in their previous nine contests and had only given up 40 or more points in a quarter once all season.
As both teams gear up for their second showdown in Paris, the Spurs will aim to replicate their offensive success, while the Pacers will look to bounce back and tighten up their defense.
