SAN ANTONIO (Interstat) — Victor Wembanyama had 22 points and 10 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs routed the Milwaukee Bucks 119-101 on Thursday night at Frost Bank Center. The Spurs seized control with a 40-point third quarter, building a lead that stretched to 39 points early in the fourth. Stephon Castle added 19 points and 10 assists for San Antonio. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 21 points for the Bucks, who lost their third consecutive game. San Antonio improved to 28-14. Milwaukee fell to 17-24.

SAN ANTONIO (Interstat) — Victor Wembanyama shook off an early injury scare to post 22 points and 10 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs unleashed a devastating third-quarter surge to dismantle the Milwaukee Bucks 119-101 on Thursday night at Frost Bank Center. A crowd of 18,611 saw the Spurs snap a two-game skid and improve to 28-14, while the Bucks dropped their third consecutive contest to fall to 17-24. The game’s complexion changed dramatically in the opening minutes. Wembanyama, the Spurs’ 7-foot-4 cornerstone, was whistled for two quick fouls against Giannis Antetokounmpo, the second a shooting foul with 9:18 remaining in the first quarter that sent the French star to the bench. Despite his brief absence, San Antonio closed the period on a 14-5 run, capped by a De’Aaron Fox step-back three-pointer at the buzzer, to take a 31-27 lead. Milwaukee, led by Antetokounmpo’s 21 points, stayed within striking distance through the second quarter, trailing 66-53 at halftime. The Bucks’ offense, however, was already showing cracks, relying heavily on isolation plays and managing only six assists as a team in the first half. The third quarter became an unequivocal demolition. With Wembanyama back on the floor, the Spurs erupted. They opened the period on a 15-2 blitz, featuring two three-pointers from Wembanyama and one from Harrison Barnes, to stretch the lead to 81-55. San Antonio’s ball movement was surgical, and their defense suffocating, holding Milwaukee to just 16 points in the quarter on 5-of-23 shooting. The Spurs, by contrast, scored 40 points in the frame, shooting 14-of-22 from the field and 6-of-10 from deep. By the time Dylan Harper’s alley-oop from Wembanyama fell through the net late in the quarter, the lead had ballooned to 106-79. The most important stretch of the game was undoubtedly that third-quarter onslaught, which transformed a competitive contest into a decisive rout. The Spurs’ offensive rating of 119.2 for the game was fueled by this period of peak efficiency, while the Bucks’ offensive rating languished at 100.5. San Antonio’s attack was balanced and efficient. Beyond Wembanyama’s double-double, rookie guard Stephon Castle orchestrated the offense with 19 points and 10 assists. Julian Champagnie controlled the glass with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Fox added 18 points. The Spurs shot 50.6% from the field and 43.2% from three-point range, assisted on 27 of their 40 made baskets, and committed only 16 turnovers. Milwaukee, conversely, struggled with cohesion all night. They finished with a season-low six assists, highlighting a stagnant offensive approach. The Bucks shot 39.1% overall and 35.4% from beyond the arc. Kyle Kuzma provided 18 points off the bench, and Bobby Portis added 13 points and six rebounds, but it was not nearly enough to counter the Spurs’ firepower. With the game decided, both teams emptied their benches for the entire fourth quarter. The Bucks’ reserves won the final period 32-13 to make the final score more respectable, but the outcome had been sealed long before. The Spurs will look to build on this performance when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. The Bucks continue a difficult road trip, heading to Atlanta to face the Hawks on Monday.

SAN ANTONIO (Interstat) — A marquee matchup of MVP candidates Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama highlights Thursday night’s NBA slate as the Milwaukee Bucks visit the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. The game pits two franchises on divergent tracks this season. The Spurs (27-13) enter as one of the Western Conference’s top teams, while the Bucks (17-22) have struggled to find consistency and sit outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture. All eyes will be on the showdown between the two-time MVP Antetokounmpo and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year Wembanyama. Antetokounmpo is in the midst of a dominant stretch, averaging 31.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists over his last eight games. He is coming off a near triple-double in a 108-104 loss at Denver on Sunday, posting 31 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists. Wembanyama continues to be a force on both ends for the Spurs. The 7-foot-4 phenom is averaging 22.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game this season. He scored 29 points with seven rebounds in San Antonio’s narrow 104-103 loss at Minnesota on Sunday. His rim protection will be critical against Antetokounmpo’s relentless drives. San Antonio has won seven of its last 10 games despite the last-second loss to the Timberwolves. The Spurs’ defense, anchored by Wembanyama, ranks among the league’s best. Milwaukee has shown flashes, including a road win over the Lakers last week, but has lost three of its last five. The Bucks will need more scoring support around Antetokounmpo, who has shouldered a heavy load. Guard AJ Green, who had 14 points in the Denver loss, is one candidate to provide a lift. The Spurs won the teams’ only meeting last season. This contest offers a compelling study in contrasts: San Antonio’s cohesive rise versus Milwaukee’s star-driven search for form, all under the spotlight of a premier individual duel.