Stephon Castle emphasized defense as a cornerstone of his game following San Antonio’s 111-99 comeback victory against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. “I try and hang my hat on that end… I probably did a great job team defending,” Castle said, highlighting his communication on the court.
Castle called defense a non-negotiable for him personally. “Whether shots are going in or not, that can’t change my aggressiveness or my energy on that end,” he said. He credited his teammates for supporting him, noting, “Those guys, you can’t guard them really one-on-one… we had great communication behind me when I was guarding those guys.”
He reflected on the halftime adjustment when the team had fallen behind. “Pretty much just ‘stop being soft.’ At the beginning, they were kind of punking us… just yelling at each other to fix it,” Castle explained. He added that the team’s accountability helped maintain focus, saying, “Nobody in our locker room takes anything personal. We’re all trying to get better together.”
Castle praised Victor Wembanyama’s influence on both ends of the floor. “He’s the head of the snake… his presence on defense and creating shots for us… it definitely boosts the energy for our team,” he said. Castle also highlighted Wembanyama’s effort on loose balls, noting, “No matter who it is, one through 15, no matter what’s on the clock… he’s going to have to be a part of that too.”
The Spurs overcame a 16-point deficit to secure their second win in three meetings against Houston this season. Castle contributed 16 points, six assists, and five rebounds, complementing Wembanyama’s 28 points, 16 rebounds, and five blocks. De’Aaron Fox added 18 points and eight assists, while Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson provided crucial bench scoring.
Castle said regaining the team’s identity was key to the victory. “If we do those little things, we’re going to win the majority of the games… in the games we lose, we understand why,” he said. He emphasized that maintaining focus and energy allowed San Antonio to execute in the second half and finish strong.
The win improves San Antonio’s record to 32-15, keeping them in second place in the Western Conference. Houston falls to 28-17 and remains fourth. The Spurs travel to Charlotte on Saturday, while the Rockets begin a road trip in Atlanta on Thursday.
