Stephon Castle led the San Antonio Spurs to a 132-119 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday at crypto.com Arena, securing a spot in the NBA Cup semifinals. Castle praised the team’s poise in key moments against the defending champions.
“Just the maturity that we had coming into the game… we came together and clamped down when we needed to most,” Castle said regarding the Spurs’ composure after LeBron James’ plays.
Castle credited the team’s pace for creating opportunities on both ends. “Our pace was great from the start of the game, kind of opened up the court for us,” he noted, emphasizing the value of executing the game plan under pressure.
The veteran guard also reflected on the tournament format, highlighting its competitive stakes. “Win or go home… having a little something added on definitely feels good,” Castle said about the NBA Cup environment.
Looking ahead to the semifinal against Oklahoma City, Castle stressed confidence and preparation. “Same mindset… go over our film, go over our scout, get our game plan, and try to execute it,” he said, maintaining focus despite the Thunder’s recent 48-point victory over Phoenix.
Castle highlighted teammate Keldon Johnson’s impact on the team. “KJ’s like the heart and soul of this team… he makes those little plays all the time,” he said, praising Johnson’s energy and leadership.
The Spurs’ chemistry with young guard Dylan Harper was another point of focus. “On the court, just with our IQ and how we like to share the ball… it kind of made it easy to click on the court,” Castle said, noting the advantage of off-court rapport translating into teamwork.
Castle discussed defensive adjustments against the Lakers, particularly limiting free throws and handling star players. “Anything Luka’s on is going to be tough to beat… slow him down as much as you can and execute the rest of your game plan,” he said.
San Antonio’s balanced attack featured De’Aaron Fox with 20 points and Keldon Johnson contributing 17 points and eight rebounds. Castle returned in his second game after a 10-game absence with a hip injury, adding 30 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.
The Spurs jumped to an 18-point lead in the second quarter with a 17-2 run, exploiting Los Angeles’ season-long perimeter defensive struggles, and now aim to challenge the defending NBA Cup champion in Las Vegas this Saturday.
