Stephon Castle fills up the stat sheet in loss to Suns

The San Antonio Spurs suffered their first loss of the season, ending their franchise-record five-game winning streak with a 130-118 defeat by the Phoenix Suns. This game marked a significant setback for the team, as they were unable to maintain their undefeated start.

Stephon Castle emerged as a standout performer for the Spurs, delivering an impressive stat line of 26 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. He excelled offensively by scoring at all levels, including at the rim, in the mid-range, and from beyond the arc, where he made two three-pointers. Additionally, his defense was notable, as he effectively guarded the Suns' top player, Devin Booker, using his size, strength, and agility to apply smothering pressure.

The Suns' defensive strategy heavily focused on limiting Victor Wembanyama, who was held to just 9 points on 4-14 shooting, disrupting the Spurs' offensive rhythm. Despite this, there were moments of effective ball movement, such as a play where Wembanyama created an advantage leading to a wide-open three-pointer by Harrison Barnes, who contributed 13 points with three three-pointers in the loss.

Keldon Johnson provided a spark off the bench with 19 points, highlighted by a fourth-quarter poster dunk where he capitalized on a mismatch. However, the Spurs struggled overall to find consistent offensive flow, and the Suns' hot shooting ultimately secured their victory.

Looking ahead, the Spurs aim to rebound from this loss as they conclude their road trip with a game against the Los Angeles Lakers scheduled for Wednesday at 9 PM CT.