Victor Wembanyama bagged a season-high 41 points and scored the fastest double-double in NBA history as the San Antonio Spurs rolled to a ninth straight victory with a 129-114 blowout of the Chicago Bulls on Monday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Another dominant all-round offensive performance saw the Spurs pull away decisively after outscoring Chicago 35-19 in the second quarter, after only one point separated the two sides after the first period.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
French star Wembanyama was once again the pivotal figure for San Antonio, who have emerged as genuine NBA title contenders since the mid-season All-Star Break with 19 wins and only two losses.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wembanyama finished Monday's game with 41 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal in a performance which underscored his status as one of the front-runners for the NBA's Most Valuable Player award.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wembanyama's double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds arrived just eight minutes and 31 seconds after he stepped on court, a new NBA record.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Stephon Castle backed Wembanyama with 21 points while four other Spurs players finished in double figures.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Today wasn't perfect as a team and personally," Wembanyama said. "I wish I was better, but it's still satisfying.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The most fun part is that we've got a healthy locker room and we're just happy as a whole because we get on together well on and off the court. We're just loving the experience."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
San Antonio's victory left them on 57-18 in the Western Conference, firmly on the shoulder of leaders Oklahoma City, who improved to 60-16 with a 114-110 overtime victory against Eastern Conference leaders Detroit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- 'Never-die mentality' -<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wembanyama's rival and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, scored 47 points as the Thunder escaped with a win against a short-handed Detroit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Pistons went into the clash with their top-five leading scorers including Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren, all on the injured list.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However a determined Pistons line-up led by seven points with three minutes remaining before Gilgeous-Alexander spearheaded a late rally that included 13 fourth-quarter points and eight more in overtime to shepherd the Thunder to the win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We have a never-die mentality," Gilgeous-Alexander said afterwards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Seven points down with three minutes left is nothing to us. We knew that if we could get stops, we would give ourselves a chance. We just had to go out there and make players and we did a good job of that."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Los Angeles Lakers remain in third place in the Western Conference on 49-26 after easing past the Washington Wizards 120-101.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With Lakers star Luka Doncic missing through suspension, it was left to LeBron James to lead the scoring with 21 points.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Atlanta Hawks boosted their playoff hopes with a 112-102 defeat of the Boston Celtics in their Eastern Conference clash.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jaylen Brown led the scoring with 29 points for a depleted Celtics line-up missing Jayson Tatum, but Atlanta's balanced offense, with 20 points apiece from Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu, carried the Hawks to victory.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Minnesota Timberwolves saw seven players finish in double figures in a 124-94 rout of the Dallas Mavericks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n