The San Antonio Spurs extended their winning streak to nine games in a row, toppling the Detroit Pistons in a possible NBA Finals preview.
The San Antonio Spurs extended their winning streak to nine games in a row and remain undefeated on the Rodeo Road Trip after defeating the Detroit Pistons, 114-103, on Monday night.
San Antonio and Detroit are two of the most exciting, promising teams in the NBA, and both franchises are well ahead of where they were expected to be at the start of the season. It's very plausible that fans are treated to a rematch of the 2005 NBA Finals this year.
The Pistons, to their credit, leaned into the "Bad Boys" and "Goin' to Work" history, getting physical with the Spurs early and often. The Spurs, despite struggles against rougher play styles earlier in the season, were able to overcome it.
Spurs' Recent Win Shows Key Growth
Earlier in the year, the Spurs were one of the better teams in the league, although their ability to withstand bruising opponents was questionable at best. Perhaps no one in the league leans into physicality more than the Pistons, but Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Keldon Johnson, and Julian Champagnie all brought some aggressive energy of their own to the contest.
Clearly, it paid off.
"I thought there were a few times that there was a physicality, a contact, a touching sequence or moment or situation, and I thought we responded very appropriately at times," praised Mitch Johnson after the game.
After an offensive foul on Cade Cunningham, Keldon Johnson got in the All-Star's face. No one in San Antonio was complaining.
"I wouldn't expect any less from KJ or, I mean, anybody else on our team, no matter who got pushed to the ground," said Castle, who Cunningham initially fouled.
Johnson and Cunningham had to be separated, and technical fouls were called on both teams. Detroit fans will be quick to point out that Isaiah Stewart is suspended, otherwise Johnson may not have been as brave!
As the Spurs ramp up for the postseason and the end of the regular season, they understand that physicality will ramp up and officials will swallow their whistles. While that may have been daunting at the start of the season, the Spurs have embraced playing with added violence and are expected to be a force no matter who they face off against.