[SAEN] 3 takeaways as Spurs waste pair of triple-doubles vs. Warriors

马刺 vs 勇士 120 - 125 技术统计 | 视频集锦

By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-11-12 22:27:40

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San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) shoots over guard Stephen Curry (30) during the second half of an NBA game in San Antonio, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Golden State beat San Antonio 123-120.

A funny thing happened on the way to what could have been the Spurs’ sixth straight victory at home Wednesday.

Specifically, Stephen Curry happened.

The Golden State’s 37-year-old All-Star shrugged off a slow start to pour in a season-high 46 points and secure a 125-120 victory at the Frost Bank Center.

The Spurs lost despite a pair of triple-doubles — one from Victor Wembanyama (31 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists) and one from Stephon Castle (23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists).

It was the first triple-double of Castle’s career and the fourth for Wembanyama, and marked the first time in franchise history the Spurs recorded a pair of triple-doubles in the same game.

That those milestones came in defeat only served to irk the Spurs, who lost for the first time at the Frost Bank Center after starting 5-0 at home.

Jimmy Butler scored 28 points and Moses Moody added 19 points for the heretofore listing Warriors, who improved to 6-7.

Here are three takeaways from Wednesday’s defeat, which the Spurs (8-3) will look to avenge as they face Golden State again at home:

1. Played with fire against wrong team

The Spurs were rolling midway through the second quarter, up 16 points with 3:30 remaining, and seemed on the brink of delivering an early knockout blow to a Golden State team on the second night of a back-to-back.

The end of the second quarter did not go well for the home team.

Through a slew of bad decisions, poor shot selection and empty possessions, the Spurs allowed Golden State within 56-49 at half.

The game avalanched on the Spurs from there.

The Warriors made 30 of 34 from the foul line despite not taking any in the first quarter, and attempted more than double the free throws of the Spurs (14 of 16). The Spurs turned the ball over 20 times, with Wembanyama committing eight and Fox six.

The second quarter lull turned into a third quarter lull turned into a hill the Spurs could not climb.

The Spurs have had these kinds of moments in earlier games and responded to win.

Giving a team like Chicago or New Orleans new life is not the same as giving new life to Golden State. The Warriors made them pay.

2. De’Aaron Fox delivers his first dud

It was not a good night for the Spurs’ highest-paid player.

For the first time in his return from an offseason hamstring injury, Fox struggled.

He finished with 13 points on 5 of 14 shooting and had more turnovers than successful field goals.

It was not the worst game of Fox’s tenure in silver and black — he had seven points on 3 of 12 shooting in a Feb. 26 loss against Houston.

Still, it was a hiccup for a player who had totaled 43 points in his first two games of the season.

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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) drives into the lane on Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23)during the second half of an NBA game in San Antonio, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Golden State beat San Antonio 123-120.

3. Warriors (predictably) threaten Wemby’s block streak

The Warriors, almost to a fault, are famous for passing up shots in the paint. Coming in, this was a scenario that did not bode well for Wembanyama’s franchise-record blocked-shot streak.

It turns out Wembanyama got on the blocks board early, tipping away a Draymond Green 3-point try in the first quarter.

That stood as Wembanyama’s only rejection of the night, but it was enough to extend his string of games with a block to 96 in a row.

That is the third-longest in NBA history

It marked Wembanyama’s 96th consecutive game recording a blocked shot, behind Patrick Ewing (145) and Dikembe Mutombo (116).

By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News