NBA: Dylan Harper matches career high in first start as Spurs hammer Pacers

Rookie Dylan Harper poured in a career-high-tying 24 points in his first career start and Keldon Johnson also hit for 24 points as the host San Antonio Spurs rolled to a 134-119 win over the hapless Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

The Spurs (53-18) remain on a torrid pace as they won their fifth straight game and for the 21st time in their past 23 contests. San Antonio has lost just twice in March after going undefeated in February and remain three games behind Oklahoma City for the best record in the NBA with 11 games left.

Meanwhile, Indiana dropped its 16th consecutive outing. The Pacers (15-56) continue to establish a dubious team mark for losses in a row with every setback and have already been eliminated from postseason consideration.

San Antonio led by 13 points at halftime and by 100-85 entering the final period. Victor Wembanyama rang up 10 points over the first three and half minutes of the fourth quarter, with his 3-pointer with 8:34 to play, boosting the Spurs' advantage to 21 points. San Antonio cruised to the finish while leading by as many as 28 points in the stretch run.

Wembanyama finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five blocked shots in 26 minutes of court time. De'Aaron Fox added 14 points for the Spurs, with Harrison Barnes scoring 12 and Julian Champagnie hitting for 10.

San Antonio played without star guard Stephon Castle for the second straight game because of right hip stiffness. Devin Vassell (right hamstring tightness) also missed the game for the Spurs.

Indiana's Andrew Nembhard led all scorers with 25 points while Jarace Walker tallied 21.

Pascal Siakam scored 14 in his first game back after missing six contests with a sprained right knee and Obi Toppin added 11.

The Spurs were in command from the game's early minutes and carried a 42-29 advantage after 12 minutes of play.

San Antonio stoked its lead to 21 points when Barnes poured in a jumper from beyond the arc with 2:42 to play in the second period.

But the Pacers swung back, finishing the half with a 10-2 run capped by Siakam's jumper with 26 seconds left that allowed Indiana to draw to 66-53 at the break.

Johnson paced all scorers with 16 points before halftime while Siakam led the Pacers with 12 points in the first half.

-Field Level Media/Reuters