PHOENIX (Interstat) — Victor Wembanyama scored 40 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked eight shots, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Phoenix Suns 122-96 on Monday night at Mortgage Matchup Center. The Spurs improved to 9-2 and extended their winning streak to nine games after opening the season with two losses. Phoenix fell to 3-6. Attendance was 17,071. San Antonio controlled the game at both ends, using a decisive first-half run and a steady second-half pullaway to turn a competitive opening quarter into a comfortable victory.

Wembanyama was the central figure. The 7-foot-4 forward had 22 points, six rebounds and five blocks before halftime, altering Phoenix’s approach on nearly every possession. San Antonio used a 21-2 run to take a 61-46 lead into halftime, and Wembanyama’s presence around the rim helped the Spurs hold the Suns without easy baskets for long stretches. Phoenix tried to attack the paint, but Wembanyama’s length and timing forced altered shots and turnovers. His early dominance set the tone for a San Antonio team that has now won nine consecutive games and has not lost since the opening week of the season.

The Spurs kept the pressure on after halftime. Julian Champagnie opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer, and De’Aaron Fox followed with another 3 after Phoenix briefly answered. Dylan Harper provided a spark with a series of midrange jumpers and drives, while Wembanyama continued to finish around the basket. San Antonio’s defense remained connected, and the Suns could not string together enough stops to cut into the lead. Devin Booker kept Phoenix within reach for a while, but the Spurs answered nearly every Phoenix run with a basket at the other end. San Antonio’s ball movement was not reflected in a high assist total, but the Spurs consistently generated clean looks by attacking the paint and kicking out to shooters.

San Antonio’s efficiency told the story. The Spurs shot 46 of 90 from the floor, including 11 of 30 from 3-point range, and made 19 of 25 free throws. Phoenix shot 35 of 89 overall, 9 of 26 from beyond the arc, and 17 of 19 from the foul line. San Antonio finished with 15 offensive rebounds to Phoenix’s 11, blocked 10 shots to Phoenix’s seven, and committed nine turnovers to Phoenix’s seven. The Spurs were whistled for 18 fouls and the Suns for 17. San Antonio scored 122 points on 96 possessions for an offensive rating of 127.2, while Phoenix scored 96 points on 94 possessions for an offensive rating of 102.1. San Antonio also finished with six assists, while Phoenix had three.

Booker led Phoenix with 32 points, two rebounds, four assists and one block. Khaman Maluach added 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block for the Suns. The Spurs received balanced support behind Wembanyama. Fox had 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Harper scored 17 points with five rebounds and four assists. Champagnie added 11 points, three rebounds and two assists. Castle contributed four points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Barnes scored 11 points and grabbed two rebounds. Kornet had two points, four rebounds and one block, and McLaughlin added four points, four rebounds and two assists. Wembanyama finished with three assists to go with his 40 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks.

The first quarter was tight early. Fox opened the scoring with a driving layup and free throw, and Harper added a basket off a Wembanyama assist. Booker kept Phoenix close with a pair of pullup jumpers, and the Suns moved ahead briefly on Booker’s 25-foot 3 late in the period. San Antonio responded with Wembanyama’s tip dunk and a 26-foot 3, then Fox closed the quarter with a driving layup. The Spurs carried that momentum into the second, where Barnes hit a 3, McLaughlin scored on a running layup and Kornet added a tip dunk. San Antonio’s defense fueled the run that broke the game open, and Phoenix went into halftime with a significant deficit.

The Spurs stretched the lead in the third. Harper scored on a turnaround jumper, a step-back jumper and a driving layup, and Wembanyama added a reverse layup and an alley-oop dunk. Fox hit a 3-pointer and later assisted on a Wembanyama 3 that pushed the margin further. In the fourth, Wembanyama opened with an alley-oop dunk and a running dunk, and Barnes hit a 3 to keep the lead secure. San Antonio’s reserves closed out the final minutes, with Carter Bryant hitting a 3, Jordan McLaughlin scoring inside and Tarris Reed finishing a dunk off a McLaughlin assist to complete the scoring. The Suns got late baskets from Koa Peat, Jamaree Bouyea and Duop Reath, but they could not threaten the outcome.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of San Antonio 109, Phoenix 108. Interstat’s ELO system had projected San Antonio with an 84.8 percent probability to win. San Antonio had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -8.5. The total score of 218 was listed against a pregame over-under line of 225.5.