NBA roundup: San Antonio Spurs dominate Milwaukee Bucks, ending their playoff hopes

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/castle-stephon/Kzd3IGeT/"]Castle[/a] contributed 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Spurs while 22-year-old French star Wembanyana added two steals, six assists and a blocked shot.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/san-antonio-spurs/IwmkErSH/"]San Antonio[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/milwaukee-bucks-QTBEW6rC/san-antonio-spurs-IwmkErSH/?mid=lKsQ5N0f"]improved to 56-18[/a], second in the Western Conference and only two games behind league leader [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/oklahoma-city-thunder/0fHFHEWD/"]Oklahoma City[/a].[/p][p]The Spurs, who have clinched their first playoff berth since 2019, are an NBA-best 24-2 since February 1 and often winning by big margins.[/p][p]"[b]Taking a lot of pride in it,[/b]" [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wembanyama-victor/jFmM1MFl/"]Wembanyama[/a] said. "[b]Something none of us was used to until recently. It shows a lot of progress. Love it.[/b]"[/p][p]In his third season, 2023 NBA Draft top pick Wembanyama has lifted the Spurs from 22-60 in his Rookie of the Year campaign to a legitimate title threat.[/p][p]"[b]I guess one big component I have better than my first two years is winning. Now we're a winning team,[/b]" he said. "[b]Just trying to enjoy the whole thing and be the best version of myself.[/b]"[/p][p]A major reason for Wembanyama's confidence is the defensive skill he and his teammates have displayed.[/p][p]"[b]I know we're the best defense out there,[/b]" Wembanyama said. "[b]We have guys that have shown all season they can adapt quick. They are coachable. We have just a great collective so I've got 100% trust in my teammates.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="47a746dc-2361-4565-9016-af068565af4f" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2038027097084408183?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]"Wemby" delivered an impressive behind-the-back pass to set up a Castle slam dunk, the guard scoring 11 points early as the Spurs jumped ahead 46-24 just 2:30 into the second quarter on the way to a 67-45 half-time lead.[/p][p]San Antonio led 102-79 after three quarters and scored the first 11 points of the fourth to help secure the victory.[/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/milwaukee-bucks/QTBEW6rC/"]Bucks[/a] (29-44), playing without Greek star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antetokounmpo-giannis/zw2Tm2a1/"]Giannis Antetokounmpo[/a] for a sixth straight game due to a left knee injury, were eliminated from post-season contention with the loss to the Spurs, missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2016.[/p][p]Milwaukee's defeat secured no worse than play-in spots for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-76ers/vwRW2QSh/"]Philadelphia[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/charlotte-hornets/xftMikUg/"]Charlotte[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/orlando-magic/QZMS36Dn/"]Orlando[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/miami-heat/CQ7AXnT5/"]Miami[/a] - who hold the seventh through 10th spots in the Eastern Conference.[/p][p]Philadelphia snapped Charlotte's five-game win streak with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/charlotte-hornets-xftMikUg/philadelphia-76ers-vwRW2QSh/?mid=pnyZ31V6"]a 118-114 road victory[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/embiid-joel/G2hZm0nI/"]Joel Embiid[/a] scored 29 points, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/george-paul/KOvfaZVQ/"]Paul George[/a] added 26 points and 13 rebounds and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maxey-tyrese/r9DvnZeC/"]Tyrese Maxey[/a] contributed 26 points to power the triumphant 76ers while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/miller-brandon/YFBQpEeK/"]Brandon Miller[/a]'s 29 points led the Hornets.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ball-lamelo/fskMOC1n/"]LaMelo Ball[/a]'s three-pointer put Charlotte ahead 114-112 with 1:24 to play but Embiid hit a free throw, George added a three-pointer and Maxey added a free throw for a 117-114 76ers lead with 31 seconds remaining.[/p][p]Ball missed two potential tying three-point shots and Embiid blocked another attempt by Miller before a final George free throw settled matters.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-pistons/UcjMRj6J/"]Pistons[/a] beat T-Wolves[/h2][p]The Detroit Pistons dominated defensively [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/detroit-pistons-UcjMRj6J/minnesota-timberwolves-KjBIVQcI/?mid=v7Vbiq3b"]in a 109-87 victory[/a] at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/minnesota-timberwolves/KjBIVQcI/"]Minnesota[/a], the Timberwolves shooting only 32% (27-of-85) from the floor and missing a season-high 34 three-pointers on 9-43 from beyond the arc.[/p][p]The Pistons, rated second in the NBA defensively behind league-leading Oklahoma City, improved to 5-1 since losing star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cunningham-cade/0YleT8PG/"]Cade Cunningham[/a] to a collapsed lung.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/harris-tobias/A7GXRiFJ/"]Tobias Harris[/a] scored 18 points to lead seven Pistons in double figures.[/p][p]At 54-20, Detroit moved 4.5 games ahead of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/boston-celtics/KYD9hVEm/"]Boston[/a] atop the Eastern Conference while the T-Wolves fell to 45-29, a half-game ahead of sixth-place [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/houston-rockets/Sr9PQALP/"]Houston[/a] in the Western Conference.[/p][p]Minnesota, lacking All-Star guard [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/edwards-anthony/6u0BMZM2/"]Anthony Edwards[/a] due to a knee injury, was led by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/divincenzo-donte/4zqUIf5Q/"]Donte DiVincenzo[/a]'s game-high 22 points.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/basketball/usa/nba/"][b]Follow all of the NBA action on Flashscore.[/b][/a][/p]