Tempers flare in Spurs-Pistons game in a matchup of 2 of NBA's top teams

DETROIT (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs refused to let the Detroit Pistons rough them up, responding to physical play with toughness and talent, in a potential preview of the NBA Finals.

Victor Wembanyama had 21 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks, Devin Vassell scored 28 and San Antonio beat Detroit 114-103 on Monday night.

“It’s definitely a night where we confirmed progression and confirmed potential as well," Wembanyama said. “That was a good test.”

The Spurs passed it — even with their superstar struggling with his shot.

Wembanyama was 6 of 16 and his teammates more than made up for it with Vassell making seven 3-pointers and three other teammates scoring in double figures. The Spurs combined to make 18 of 40 shots beyond the arc.

“We know how talented Wemby is and how impactful he can be, but it’s not a one-man show over there,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “They have a bunch of talented perimeter players."

The Spurs have won a season-high nine games in a row and trail only the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference.

The Eastern Conference-leading Pistons, who had won five straight, host Oklahoma City on Wednesday night in another opportunity to find out how they measure up against the league's best teams.

“No matter who the opponent is, our guys are looking forward to those challenges," Bickerstaff said.

Cade Cunningham ended up missing 21 of 26 shots and finishing with 16 points and 10 assists with Stephon Castle guarding him most of the game.

“I don’t know what the playoffs are like, but I know we’re going to need some of that,” said Wembanyama, who is in his third season with a franchise that hasn't been in the postseason since 2019.

Detroit, meanwhile, is trying to take the next step this season by advancing in the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

The Pistons had one of the most remarkable turnarounds in league history last season and ended a 15-game losing streak in the playoffs in the first round against the New York Knicks, but they were eliminated.

Against the Spurs, tempers flared in the first half.

Cunningham was called for an offensive foul after extending his arms and knocking Castle down on the court. Spurs forward Keldon Johnson responded by pushing Cunningham and Pistons center Jalen Duren, who was recently suspended by the league, pointed his right finger in Johnson's face.

“That sparked a lot of energy on our team because we’re not going to back down," Castle said.

After a review, Johnson and Duren were called for technical fouls in the second quarter of the closely contested game.

The NBA suspended center Isaiah Stewart for seven games earlier this month after he left the bench during a fight in Detroit's game at Charlotte, and he was still serving the suspension during San Antonio's visit. Duren was forced to sit for two games for initiating the altercation.

Wembanyama said Detroit plays “bully ball,” and added that he was glad to experience its physical style.

“This is probably the team that is most capable of playing that ball," he said.

The Spurs, it turns out, can handle themselves just fine against teams like the Pistons.

“They are going to test your toughness," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. "Detroit just toes the line. I don’t think they cross it.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff shouts to his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell, left, celebrates with forward Victor Wembanyama (1) after scoring against the Detroit Pistons during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson shouts to his team during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) drives against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) goes to the basket past Detroit Pistons guards Ausar Thompson (9) and Cade Cunningham (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

San Antonio Spurs guard De'aaron Fox (4) looks to pass the ball against Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris, top right, and forward Duncan Robinson, front left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) battles San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) for a rebound with Pistons guard Javonte Green (31) helping on the play during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

HELSINGBORG, Sweden (AP) — NATO allies and defense officials expressed bewilderment Friday at U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would send 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland just weeks after ordering the same number of forces pulled out of Europe.

The apparent change of mind came after weeks of statements from Trump and his administration about reducing — not increasing — the U.S. military footprint in Europe. Trump's initial order set off a flurry of action among military commanders and left allies already doubtful about America's commitment to Europe's security to ponder what forces they might have to backfill on NATO's eastern flank with Russia and Ukraine.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it was reducing levels in Europe by about 5,000 troops, and U.S. officials confirmed about 4,000 service members were no longer rotating into Poland from Germany. The dispatch to Germany of U.S. personnel trained to fire long-range missiles was also halted.

But in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said he would now send "an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,” citing his strong ties with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump endorsed in elections last year.

“It is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate,” Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told reporters Friday at a meeting she was hosting of her NATO counterparts, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Ministers from the Netherlands and Norway were sanguine about Trump’s latest move, as was Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, who said allies knew the U.S. troop “posture was being reconsidered, and now there is no change of posture. For now.”

U.S. defense officials also expressed confusion. “We just spent the better part of two weeks reacting to the first announcement. We don’t know what this means either,” said one of two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.

But Rubio said Washington’s allies understand that changes in the U.S. troop presence in Europe will come as the Trump administration reevaluates its force needs. “I think there’s a broad recognition that there are going to be eventually less U.S. troops in Europe than there has historically been for a variety of reasons,” he said.

The latest surprise came despite a U.S. pledge to coordinate troop deployments, including one from NATO’s top military officer, U.S. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, on Wednesday.

Trump's initial announcement that he would withdraw troops came as he fumed over remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that the U.S. was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticized what he called a lack of strategy in that war.

Trump told reporters that the U.S. would be cutting even more than 5,000 and also announced new tariffs on European cars. Germany is the continent’s biggest auto producer.

Rubio insisted that Trump’s decision “is not a punitive thing. It’s just something that’s ongoing.”

About 80,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Europe. The Pentagon is required to keep at least 76,000 troops and major equipment on the continent unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U.S. interests.

The withdrawal of 5,000 troops might drop numbers below that limit.

But Trump's latest post suggests that troop numbers in Europe would not change. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski welcomed the decision to send more forces to his country, saying it ensures that “the presence of American troops in Poland will be maintained more or less at previous levels.”

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also welcomed the move. On Thursday, before Trump took to Truth Social again, Rutte had underlined that it was important for Europe to take care of its own security. “We have a process in place. This is normal business,” he told reporters.

At NATO headquarters in Brussels, meanwhile, U.S. officials briefed the allies on the Pentagon's aims for its commitments to the NATO Force Model, which involves contingency planning for Europe’s defense in the event of serious security concerns. It was widely expected that a further reduction of U.S. forces would be coming.

Asked whether any cuts were announced, Rutte said: “I’m afraid it’s much more complicated than that.” He said the procedure “is highly classified” and declined to give details.

Rubio played down concerns about a shift in U.S. force levels in Europe, saying: "Every country has to constantly reevaluate what their needs are, what their commitments are around the world, and how to properly structure that.”

Cook reported from Brussels. Associated Press writer Emma Burrows in London contributed.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with journalists during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, front second left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, front left, speak with each other during a group photo at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte look at each other as they deliver a statement during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže speaks at the doorstep of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting at Sea U in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte deliver a statement during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks to media at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives with his wife Jeanette at Malmo Airport, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Malmo-Sturup, Sweden, ahead of a NATO foreign ministers meeting. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, second from left, shakes hands with Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson, as he is greeted by King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Silvia of Sweden and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Maria Malmer Stenergard, right, before a dinner at Sofiero Castle in Helsingborg, Sweden, Thursday May 21 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard speaks to media at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)