Preview: NBA’s Top Contender Visits Struggling Nets BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Interstat) — A matchup of teams at opposite ends of the NBA standings unfolds Thursday night when the surging San Antonio Spurs visit the struggling Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. The Spurs (41-17) enter on a blistering pace, having won nine of their last 10 games. Their most recent victory was a 114-103 road win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday. San Antonio’s dominance is built around a formidable defense and the transcendent play of third-year star Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama, the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year, is averaging a near triple-double over his last 10 contests with prolific shot-blocking. He posted 21 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks against Detroit, following a 28-point, 15-rebound, six-assist performance against Sacramento. He is complemented by guard Devin Vassell, who scored 28 points in the win over the Pistons. Conversely, the Nets (15-42) have lost four straight and 12 of their last 14 games. They are coming off a 123-114 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday. Second-year forward Noah Clowney has provided a bright spot, scoring 22 points in that contest, but Brooklyn has consistently struggled to contain opponents. The Nets allow an average of 115.8 points per game, a significant weakness facing a Spurs offense that has scored 121 points or more in seven of their last 10 outings. In the only prior meeting this season, the Spurs defeated the Nets 118-107 in San Antonio on Oct. 26. Following this game, the Spurs continue a four-game road trip with a visit to the New York Knicks on Sunday. The Nets embark on a challenging stretch, traveling to face the Boston Celtics on Friday. Thursday’s contest pits one of the league’s most complete teams against one in the midst of a deep rebuild, with Wembanyama’s two-way prowess poised to challenge Brooklyn’s fragile defense.