March 1, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembayama (1) gestures for the ball during the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images The San Antonio Spurs, who watched their 11-game winning streak end over the weekend, will attempt to start a new streak when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.
San Antonio’s hot streak has now included three straight wins to begin a five-game road trip. However, the team hit a speed bump Sunday against the New York Knicks, 114-89.
The Spurs led by double digits in the first quarter before the Knicks took control of the game with a 26-2 run. San Antonio scored just 41 points in the first half and finished the contest shooting 41.6 percent from the field and 9 of 34 from 3-point range.
“It’s going to test your balance and composure,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “It’s going to test your physical ability and skill. … So there’s something to improve on, there’s something to learn, there’s something to understand what it feels like (to lose).”
Johnson would like to see his team display a more energetic style, starting with Tuesday’s affair.
“If you look at us at all this year, I think the best version of us is speed, athleticism, space and speed, whether it’s ball movement or body movement or a combination of that,” Johnson said.
Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 25 points and 13 rebounds in the win over New York, while Devin Vassell chipped in with 18 points. The remaining three starters, De’Aaron Fox, Julian Champagnie and Stephon Castle, combined to shoot 9 of 27 from the field.
“I think it’s good for us to see this kind of adversity,” Wembanyama said. “We want to play the best teams. This is an experienced, top-seeded playoff team. They know what it’s like and they’ve been good for us.”
Wembanyama and the Spurs are rested on Tuesday with Joel Embiid sidelined once again with an oblique strain.
Without their starting center, the Sixers lost 114-98 to the Boston Celtics on Sunday. Andre Drummond started in Embiid’s place and had 10 points and 12 rebounds, but Tyrese Maxey shot just 12 of 34 from the floor as part of a team-wide 39.8% shooting performance.
“I don’t think we made enough shots on offense,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said. “I thought the offense created a lot of good looks. I thought we had some good opportunities, but we didn’t make enough of them.”
VJ Edgecombe (8 of 21) also struggled from the floor as Philadelphia’s three-game winning streak was halted.
“It’s March now.” Maxie said. “All these games are important. This is the real deal. It’s time to go. Honestly, this was a good game and a good test for us. … But we’ll get another opportunity in a few days. And San Antonio will be a good test for us.”
This is the first of many meetings between the two teams this season. The Sixers are scheduled to visit the Spurs on April 6.
Philadelphia has won 13 of its last 16 games against San Antonio.
–Field level media
