San Antonio vs. Detroit, Final Score: Spurs end season with blowout win over Pistons, 123-95

Despite missing almost their entire main rotation, the Spurs went out with a bang.

After a huge home win against the defending champion Denver Nuggets in what would end up being Victor Wembanyama’s season finale, the Spurs would have been forgiven for not taking the true season finale against the hapless Detroit Pistons too seriously. Instead, what was left of the depleted home team came out on fire and never gave their similarly depleted opponent a chance, ending the season with a 123-95 win to tie last season’s win total (after it looked impossible at the midway point) and winning seven of their last 11 games.

Sandro Mamukelashvili led a balanced attack with 18 points and 8 rebounds, and seven other Spurs scored in double figures with 17 apiece from Zach Collins and Blake Wesley. James Wiseman led four Pistons in double figures with 21 points and 18 rebounds.

Observations

• I’m going to get this off my chest then not worry about it again, but I’m disappointed Gregg Popovich did not give Wemby the final say on if he played today. Pop said it was because he’s treating this as a de-facto back-to-back due to the early tipoff, and he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself if Wemby got hurt in a pointless game. I understand that he’s making sure Wemby can play in the Olympics (and may have some PTSD from Manu Ginobili’s broken elbow in 2011), but it should have been Wemby’s choice. He says he’s fine and wants to play, and the odds of a severe injury are extremely low. If he’s willing to take the risk, Pop should let him. End of rant.
• I believe Bill Kennedy is one of the best refs in the league, so I find it interesting that he was calling this game instead of one with postseason implications.
• Zach Collins deserves an appreciation thread. This has been rough season for him for multiple reasons, ranging from small, nagging injuries to adjusting to playing with Wemby before taking on a bench role. His outside shot abandoned him until late in the season, but he never got down. The last couple of games especially gave me new appreciation for him, as he was the only player who seemed unintimidated in OKC, then was the one who got in the huddle against Denver with his team down 23, told them to toughen up, and helped spark the comeback. If you need any more proof how much his teammates love him, when he left this game in the third quarter with a tweaked shoulder, everyone on the bench who was not dressed (which was basically all of the main rotation other than Tre Jones and Julian Champagnie) followed him back to the locker room to make sure he was okay.
• Sidy Cissoko was shy on offense in his few NBA appearances before this final stretch, but after another season of growth in the G League, he has really come alive with regular minutes in the last few games. He’s a high-flying, athletic big body who already has elite defensive instincts. He’s someone I am very much looking forward to seeing more of next season.
• Maybe it was because he got more touches with Jeremy Sochan out, but Champagnie really came into his own on offense the last few weeks and showed he might have more in him than a 3-and-D wing. He’s been cutting to the basket with confidence, completing dunks (something that has oddly been an issue this season), and generally brimming with confidence. He averaged almost 13 points across the final 10 games of the season.
• Tre Jones can dunk. Who knew? Okay, technically he’s done it four other times in his career, but still, nothing like finishing things off with your first of the season. (Also, I love how Wemby was the last one to stand, like he had to see it to believe it first.)

And that concludes the 2023-24 season! It’s strange, there were times I wanted this season to just end already because all the losing was exhausting and repetitive, but the Spurs really came into their own in the last few months, and especially the in the end with a 7-4 finish against a relatively tough schedule while severely shorthanded. Now, I wish we could see more, but unfortunately, we’ll have to wait another six months.

Regardless, it was another fun season here at Pounding the Rock, but as you all know, the coverage doesn’t stop here! Stay tuned all summer for player reviews, draft coverage, free agency and more! Once again, thank you all for sticking around all season! We wouldn’t still be here doing what we love most without your support.