San Antonio, Texas: The San Antonio Spurs delivered a commanding performance against the Golden State Warriors on Friday night, November 13, securing a 123-85 victory in Emirates NBA Cup Group C action at Frost Bank Center.
The Spurs established control almost immediately, opening the contest with an extraordinary 18-0 scoring run that left Golden State searching for answers. San Antonio’s dominant start became the largest opening run in the franchise’s play-by-play era.
The Warriors struggled to generate offense during the opening minutes, going scoreless until Gui Santos finally ended the drought with a layup. By then, San Antonio had already established a substantial advantage.
Stephon Castle led the offensive explosion, displaying outstanding confidence from the perimeter while consistently attacking the basket. The young guard finished with a season-high 32 points, six assists and five rebounds.
Castle shot 12-of-18 from the field, including 5-of-8 from three-point range, while converting all three of his free-throw attempts. His performance provided the foundation for San Antonio’s convincing victory.
Victor Wembanyama also played an important role in the Spurs’ early dominance, contributing across multiple areas of the game. The French center finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in just 20 minutes.
San Antonio’s opening-quarter performance was particularly impressive. The Spurs finished the first period with a 38-14 advantage, putting the Warriors in an increasingly difficult position before the game had fully developed.
Golden State attempted to respond during the second quarter, but San Antonio continued controlling the pace and creating opportunities around the basket. The Spurs entered halftime with a commanding 63-33 lead.
The third quarter offered little relief for Golden State as San Antonio continued extending its advantage. Castle remained productive offensively, while Wembanyama’s presence helped the home team maintain control on both ends of the floor.
The Spurs eventually built their biggest lead of the night to 43 points, underlining the difference between the teams throughout the contest. San Antonio never surrendered its advantage after taking control in the opening minutes.
The Warriors vs Spurs matchup also highlighted Golden State’s difficulties playing without Stephen Curry. The veteran guard was unavailable after suffering an oblique injury against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
Curry’s absence created a significant challenge for Golden State’s offensive organization, particularly against a San Antonio defense that consistently disrupted its rhythm. The Warriors struggled to find reliable scoring options throughout the night.
LJ Cryer provided the strongest offensive contribution for Golden State, finishing with 20 points. However, his production was not enough to overcome San Antonio’s balanced attack and defensive pressure.
Draymond Green finished with four points and was assessed a flagrant foul after a shove from behind sent Wembanyama falling out of bounds during the second quarter.
Wembanyama appeared unharmed following the incident and continued contributing before spending the remainder of the game watching his teammates complete the victory.
Keldon Johnson also delivered an important contribution for San Antonio, adding 18 points as the Spurs received production from multiple players rather than relying exclusively on Castle and Wembanyama.
The victory extended San Antonio’s winning streak to 11 consecutive games, marking an impressive turnaround for a team that began the season with two straight losses.
San Antonio also improved to 2-0 in West Group C of the Emirates NBA Cup, strengthening its position in the group-stage competition. The 38-point victory provided a significant advantage in the tournament’s point-differential tiebreaking picture.
Golden State moved to 1-1 in NBA Cup Group C after the defeat. The Warriors had entered the matchup following an eight-game winning streak, which had helped revive their early-season campaign.
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg had emerged as an important contributor during that stretch, but he struggled against San Antonio’s defense, finishing with three points on 1-of-13 shooting.
The result also continued an impressive stretch for the Spurs, who matched their longest winning streak since Wembanyama joined the franchise in 2023.
San Antonio’s next challenge comes against the Utah Jazz on Sunday, while Golden State must address its offensive struggles as it continues playing without Curry.
