It’s been 26 days because the Spurs final performed of their house venue of the Frost Financial institution Heart in San Antonio, TX. Certain, that they had a few “house” video games in Austin to interrupt up the annual Rodeo Highway Journey a bit, however that also counts as journey and never sleeping in their very own beds, in order that they’re a part of the general RRT document in my ebook, which spanned 9 video games, seven cities and three time zones that noticed the Spurs go 8-1 general.
If that document is triggering some nostalgia, you aren’t alone. Again within the the nice ol’ days, the Inventory Present and Rodeo coming to city was a very good factor for the Spurs. The prolonged highway journey all the time acted as bonding time and a profitable launching level to get the crew out of the January doldrums and into championship competition mode. In 13 of the primary 14 years, starting 2003, that they had profitable information (and the time they didn’t was after they 4-4 in 2010). Nonetheless, the tide turned in 2018 when the crew went 2-4, simply attempting to carry on whereas ready to listen to if Kawhi Leonard would return. Whereas that group and the 2019 squad, who went 1-7, each in the end turned issues round in March and made the playoffs because the seventh seed, the RRT has gone from a defining level of the season to a misplaced trigger ever since. Till now.
With the Spurs going undefeated within the month of February, together with an enormous win over tonight’s opponent, and sitting comfortably at second within the West, they appear to be the Spurs of yore. After an inconsistent January, they began clicking because the calendar turned to February, they usually’ve been on a roll ever sense (exterior of a nasty exhibiting in New York that, if their beatdown of the 76ers two nights later was any indication, was a one-off).
Now, after tying 2003 for his or her greatest RRT document ever, they head again house to welcomed six-game homestand, but it surely received’t be that simple. It begins tonight with the highest crew within the East, and the 2 “best” video games shall be a few play-in groups within the Clippers and Hornets which were on the rise and are higher than their document. It’s formally the house stretch of the season for the Spurs, and for the primary time in seven years, there’s a function behind it past simply proving a light-weight on the finish of the tunnel whereas ready for the season to return to a merciful finish.
San Antonio Spurs (44-17) vs. Detroit Pistons (45-15)
March 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT
Watch: FanDuel Sports activities | Pay attention: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs accidents: Harrison Barnes — out (ankle); Mason Plumlee — out (reconditioning)
The “return house” entice sport
Given the pension the Spurs had for enjoying right down to opponents to not way back, mixed with the return house from an extended highway journey all the time being a entice sport, it’s in all probability a very good factor that this sport is in opposition to certainly one of simply two groups with a greater document than them. The Spurs confronted the Pistons a mere ten days in the past, and the sport was all the things it was hyped as much as be: bodily, chippy, and a match-up of two defensive-minded groups with good however imperfect offenses. Whereas it took a while to regulate, Victor Wembanyama finally figured methods to use his gravitational pull on Detroit’s protection to seek out his open teammates, they usually paid him again in sort by hitting their pictures.
On the opposite finish, the Spurs’ protection and physicality gave the Pistons issues. They couldn’t end round Wemby, and Stephon Citadel did a tremendous job on Cade Cummingham all night time. The Spurs have the blue print to beat the Pistons, however maybe their greatest problem shall be to remain out of their very own heads. Don’t chill out simply since you’re again house, and don’t assume you will have this discovered. Cunningham will seemingly be out of revenge, plus there may be one different participant that wasn’t there within the first match-up to be careful for…
The Pistons didn’t have Isaiah Stewart final week as a result of he was serving a 7-game suspension after leaving the bench and combating Miles Bridges throughout a brawl with the Hornets earlier than the All-Star break. He’s again now, and whereas he might seem to be merely a backup middle whose stats don’t leap off the web page, Spurs followers can attest that stats don’t all the time inform the whole story. Affectionately known as Beef Stew, Stewart is understood for his confidence, bodily play and willingness to muck it up — mainly your basic Detroit Dangerous Boy — making him a fan favourite who hearkens again recollections of underdog Ben Wallace.
Everybody is aware of that the most effective hope to beating the Spurs is to make Wemby as uncomfortable as doable. Whereas the Pistons had been in a position to try this to an prolong of their first match-up, he nonetheless discovered different methods to contribute. In the event that they once more have bother actually taking him out of the sport, don’t be stunned if Stewart is placed on Wemby and advised to not simply out-physical him, however get in his head. Wemby will have to be prepared for no matter is thrown at him, and similar to final time, his teammates have to be prepared to reply if he can’t get it occurring offense. As they’ve proven again and again these days, the easiest way to try this is hit pictures.
You may comply with together with sport right here on the Sport Thread, in addition to on our X profile (@poundingtherock).
