San Antonio Spurs vs. Phoenix Suns final score, Digi Mart USA News: In a tale of two positive halves, Victor Wembanyama put his dominant stamp on a 61-46 first half, and second-year guard Dylan Harper shined brightly in a 32-22 third period to inflate a 15-point halftime cushion to more than 30 in the 122-96 win for San Antonio, which improved to 9-2.
Instead of spreading its scoring surge over the second and third periods as it had in previous games, the Spurs posted 30-plus point quarters through the first three quarters to build and hold a sizable advantage. The result moved San Antonio to 3-0 on its road trip.
Wembanyama finished with 40 points, 11 rebounds and 8 blocks, asserting himself from the opening tip to put Phoenix back on its heels early. Harper added 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, impressing with his smooth shooting and growing confidence as the Spurs pulled away in the third quarter.
De’Aaron Fox contributed 15 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, doing most of his damage in the first half. Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes each scored 11 points, and every Spur who saw the court tonight scored.
Devin Booker led Phoenix with 32 points and 4 assists, using his mid-range shooting to keep the Suns from being fully eclipsed in the first half. No other Suns reached double figures until Khaman Malauch scored 11 points after the outcome was decided.
Booker scored nine of Phoenix’s first points over the opening five-plus minutes, and the Spurs held a slight lead through more conventional means while their outside shots were not falling. A seven-point burst by Wembanyama enabled San Antonio to leave the first quarter up six.
Wembanyama was involved in nearly every part of an opening 10-2 run to start the second period. He shot 6-of-6 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line in just 15 game minutes before the break.
San Antonio extended its lead as high as 20 and held much of it, going into halftime ahead 61-46.
Phoenix found more footing on offense to start the third quarter, but the Spurs executed well in the halfcourt. Harper showcased a pair of stepback jumpers and a floater on the left baseline to extend the lead to 19.
His sixth basket of the quarter drew praise from the broadcast, and Wembanyama’s 16-foot finger roll capped a dominant third-quarter stretch that sent San Antonio to the fourth quarter ahead by 25.
Carter Bryant entered later in the first half and hit a transition three, then added another three in the fourth quarter. Collin Gillespie had a difficult sequence early in the fourth, with his turnaround and follow-up jumper both swatted or deflected before Wembanyama dunked on him at the other end.
Harper’s third-quarter scoring was briefly interrupted when he twisted an ankle on a Suns foot in transition, but all of his field goals in the frame came from different spots on the court. Fox, Johnson and Wembanyama also produced highlight plays, including a feathery lob and a behind-the-back pass from Fox to Champagnie for a corner three.
San Antonio’s run spanning the third and fourth quarters made the game a clear road win. The Spurs conclude their road trip Wednesday night in Chicago against the Bulls at 7:00 p.m.
CDT.
