Wembanyama scores 26, red-hot Spurs roll past sliding Heat 136-111 and clinch Southwest Division

MIAMI (AP) — Victor Wembanyama finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots, and the San Antonio Spurs rolled past the sliding Miami Heat 136-111 on Monday night for their sixth consecutive victory.

San Antonio's victory, coupled with Houston's 132-124 loss to Chicago, allowed the Spurs to clinch the Southwest Division.

Keldon Johnson and Dylan Harper each scored 21 off the bench for the Spurs, who are an NBA-best 22-2 since the start of February. They led by as many as 30, the biggest margin any visiting team has enjoyed in Miami so far this season.

Stephon Castle scored 19 for the Spurs. San Antonio (54-18) remained three games back of Oklahoma City (57-15) in the race for the NBA's best overall record and No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. The Thunder beat Philadelphia on Monday for their 12th consecutive win.

Norman Powell scored 21 off the bench to lead the Heat, who remain stuck in the quagmire that is the Eastern Conference’s play-in race and have lost five consecutive games.

Philadelphia (39-33) is seventh and a game up on Miami, while Orlando (38-33 after a loss to Indiana on Monday) is eighth and a half-game ahead of the Heat (38-34). And No. 10 Charlotte (37-34) is now only a half-game behind Miami.

Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro each scored 18 for Miami, which has dropped five straight. The Heat allowed 76 points in the first half and rested their starters in the fourth quarter.

Wembanyama was 11 for 22 from the field for the Spurs. It was the fourth time this season that he finished a game with at least 26 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks; the rest of the league has one such game, combined — that from Zach Edey in November.

Spurs: Visit Memphis on Wednesday.

Heat: Visit Cleveland on Wednesday.

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San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (7) fights for control of the ball against Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware, left, and guard Tyler Herro, second from right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) is fouled by San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots a three-point basket over Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat's Davion Mitchell, left, grabs a rebound over San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dunks over Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

CHICAGO (AP) — Matas Buzelis' layup in the final seconds put Chicago ahead to stay and Collin Sexton came off the bench to score 25 points as the Chicago Bulls beat the Houston Rockets 132-124 Monday night.

Houston's loss, combined with San Antonio's 136-111 win over Miami, allowed the Spurs (54-18) to clinch the Southwest Division.

The Bulls (29-42) led by as many as 22 points after scoring a season-high 41 points in the first quarter. But, Chicago trailed by four points late and needed Buzelis' basket with 10.2 seconds remaining to move ahead to stay and post their first win over Houston in the teams' last five games.

Kevin Durant fueled the Rockets' (43-28) comeback by scoring 15 of his game-high 40 points in the fourth quarter. Durant was 15 of 23 from the field, marking the ninth straight game he shot 50% or better, which is the third-longest streak of his career.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka was ejected after being assessed his second technical foul of the game with 9.1 seconds remaining.

Sexton scored 17 of his points in the first quarter, while Buzelis finished with 23 and Leonard Miller 17. Josh Giddey, Tre Jones and Jalen Smith each scored 15 points for the Bulls, with Giddey adding 13 assists.

After trailing by 17 at the half, the Rockets took the lead on a Jabari Smith Jr. 3-pointer with 5:56 to play. Alperen Sengun scored 33 for the Rockets and Amen Thompson added 23.

Jalen Smith, who was listed as questionable after missing the Bulls' last game with an ankle injury, tied his season high in points and finished with six rebounds and two blocks off the bench despite being limited to 26 minutes.

The Rockets had won two straight after inserting second-year guard Reed Sheppard into the starting lineup. Sheppard shot 3 for 14 from 3-point distance.

Rockets: Visit Minnesota on Wednesday.

Bulls: Visit Philadelphia on Wednesday.

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

Chicago Bulls forward/center Jalen Smith (25) battles for a rebound against Houston Rockets center Clint Capela, right, and guard Amen Thompson during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Monday, March 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bulls forward/center Jalen Smith dunks against the Houston Rockets during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Monday, March 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bulls guard Collin Sexton (2) drives as Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (15) guards during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Monday, March 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) drives against Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Monday, March 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) drives to the basket against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., center right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Monday, March 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)