Victor Wembanyama scored 25 points and rookie Stephon Castle added 19, including six during a decisive late run, as the San Antonio Spurs rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the visiting Golden State Warriors 104-94 on Saturday night.
The Warriors were playing the second game of a road back-to-back after downing the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday in NBA Cup action and looked worse for wear, especially in the final quarter, where they were outscored by 20 points.
San Antonio trailed by 17 late in the third but eventually tied the game at 90 when Castle canned a driving layup with 4:25 to play in the fourth. Castle then proceeded to knock down a 3-pointer on the Spurs’ ensuing possession.
Wembanyama, who had missed San Antonio’s previous three games due to a knee injury, added to the lead with a triple, then Castle sank a free throw with 2:28 remaining to cap an 11-0 run and stoke the Spurs’ lead to seven points at 97-90. A reverse layup by Harrison Barnes off a Wembanyama assist with 1:28 to play all but sealed San Antonio’s third consecutive win.
Barnes added 22 points for San Antonio, which was without Devin Vassell (knee) and Keldon Johnson (hamstring).
Andrew Wiggins finished with 20 points to lead Golden State. Stephen Curry added 14 points, Trayce Jackson-Davis had 12 and Buddy Hield and Lindy Waters III scored 11 apiece.
Golden State was up 29-17 after 12 minutes of play. The Spurs cut their deficit to as few as six points before the visitors swung back, as Wiggins drained a shot from beyond the arc with 23 seconds remaining in the first half to give the Warriors a 50-38 advantage at the break.
The visitors were up by as many as 17 in the third quarter before settling for an 81-71 edge heading into the fourth because of a 7-0 spurt by the Spurs to end the frame.
