Dylan Harper scored 22 points and Victor Wembanyama added 10 as the San Antonio Spurs rebounded from their first loss in 12 games by overwhelming the Philadelphia 76ers 131-91 on Tuesday night.
San Antonio never trailed and turned the game into a rout early, drilling 18 3-pointers and building a staggering 49-point lead by the end of the third quarter. The Spurs finished their annual rodeo road trip — which included two games in Austin, Texas — with an 8-1 mark after it began Feb. 10 with a win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Their 11-game overall winning streak had ended Sunday against the New York Knicks, but there was no lingering effect in Philadelphia.
Devin Vassell matched Harper with 22 points and hit six 3-pointers as the Spurs shot freely from the perimeter. Harper poured in 14 first-half points to help stake San Antonio to a 78-53 halftime advantage. Carter Bryant buried a 3-pointer during a dominant first half that stretched the lead to 60-36, drawing boos from the home crowd.
The Spurs did it without Harrison Barnes, whose streak of 364 consecutive games played ended after he woke from a pregame nap with a sore ankle.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, was severely shorthanded and overmatched from the opening tip. Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 21 points, but the team managed just 11 total points in the third quarter. Joel Embiid missed his second straight game with a strained right oblique, while Paul George (suspension) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (illness) were also unavailable. Rookie VJ Edgecombe exited in the first half after landing hard on his back on a 3-point attempt.
The blowout unfolded in front of a national audience as part of NBC’s throwback-themed broadcast, with Bob Costas and Doug Collins among those in attendance. It was a performance the Spurs will savor — and one the 76ers would prefer to forget.
Up Next: The Spurs return home for the first time since Feb. 7 when they host Detroit on Thursday. The 76ers host Utah on Wednesday.
