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SAN ANTONIO (AP) — In a commanding performance, the San Antonio Spurs secured their 11th consecutive victory by dismantling the Golden State Warriors 123-85 on Friday night. Rookie Stephon Castle led the charge with a season-best 32 points, while Victor Wembanyama contributed a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Spurs remain perfect in NBA Cup competition.
Golden State, missing two-time MVP Stephen Curry due to a right oblique tear sustained in Wednesday's 115-108 loss to Houston, struggled offensively throughout. Curry is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks. The Warriors' only double-digit scorers were L.J. Cryer with 20 points and Charles Bassey with 11.
San Antonio seized control early, racing to a 38-14 lead after the first quarter, during which Golden State shot a dismal 5 for 25 from the field. That 14-point quarter marked the fewest points allowed by the Spurs in any quarter this season and a season low for the Warriors. By halftime, the Spurs held a 63-33 advantage, the fewest first-half points by an opponent since Phoenix scored 31 on Feb. 7, 2018.
The Spurs' lead ballooned to 43 points in the third quarter, allowing San Antonio to rest its starters and key reserves for the entire fourth quarter. Wembanyama played just 21 minutes, shooting 5 for 11 from the field and 0 for 2 from beyond the arc, while recording the 121st double-double of his career.
Warriors forward Draymond Green was assessed a Flagrant Foul 1 with 6:47 remaining in the first half for a forearm shove from behind that sent Wembanyama tumbling out of bounds. Green exited the game and did not return in the first half, finishing with four points, three rebounds, and three assists in 16 minutes.
Castle shot an efficient 12 for 18 from the field and 5 for 8 from 3-point range, surpassing his previous career high of 24 points set against Oklahoma City on opening night. His final points came on a slam dunk off an alley-oop pass from Wembanyama, who delivered a finger-roll assist.
Key Analysis
The Spurs' dominant win underscores their depth and defensive prowess, even as Wembanyama had a relatively quiet scoring night. Castle's emergence as a reliable scorer adds another dimension to San Antonio's attack. For Golden State, the absence of Curry was glaring, and the team's offensive struggles without him raise concerns about their ability to compete against top-tier opponents. The Flagrant Foul on Green further complicated matters, but the game was already out of reach by that point. The Warriors will look to regroup on Monday against New Orleans, while the Spurs aim to keep their streak alive in Utah on Sunday.
See AP's full NBA coverage here.
Originally reported by yahoo.