Spurs’ Stephon Castle opens up on costly mistakes in Game 2 loss to Thunder

The shorthanded San Antonio Spurs nearly stole another game on the road, but a wave of turnovers and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s bounce-back performance proved too much in a 122-113 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday night.

With De’Aaron Fox out again because of right ankle soreness, San Antonio leaned heavily on Stephon Castle, who finished with a team-high 25 points and eight assists. However, the second-year guard also committed nine turnovers after setting a franchise playoff record with 11 giveaways in Game 1, combining for an NBA playoff-record 20 turnovers across consecutive postseason games.

After the loss, Castle pointed to his own decision-making as a trouble spot.

“I think it’s more personal on my end,” he said. “Just really speeding myself up, not allowing our screeners to get hits, so it’s like it’s putting me in a position where I have to play fast, or my screener might get an offensive foul, so I put us at a disadvantage to start the game with those.”

Amid the turnover-heavy outing, Castle continued attacking throughout the game and produced several momentum-shifting plays, including a powerful second-quarter dunk over Isaiah Hartenstein that drew a loud reaction from the Oklahoma City crowd.

The Spurs’ injury problems worsened in the third quarter when rookie guard Dylan Harper exited with a right leg injury after two hard falls. Harper had recently earned All-Rookie First Team honors.

Victor Wembanyama finished with 21 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and four blocks for San Antonio, while Devin Vassell scored 22 points. Wembanyama helped erase part of an 11-point halftime deficit during a third-quarter run, knocking down clutch 3-pointers and creating open looks for teammates.

The Spurs cut the Thunder lead to 99-97 after a corner 3-pointer from Harrison Barnes with 9:06 remaining, but Oklahoma City responded with an 11-0 run that shifted control back to the home side.

Gilgeous-Alexander, coming off a quieter Game 1, led Oklahoma City with 30 points and nine assists on 12-for-24 shooting while committing only one turnover. Alex Caruso scored 17 points off the bench, and Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 10 points and 13 rebounds, including eight offensive boards.

The Thunder’s bench outscored the Spurs’ reserves 57-25, and Oklahoma City converted San Antonio’s mistakes into a 27-10 advantage in points off turnovers. The Spurs committed 21 turnovers for the second straight game despite shooting better from the field, from three-point range and at the free-throw line.

The Thunder also lost Jalen Williams during the first half because of hamstring tightness after he had recently returned from a Grade 2 hamstring strain.

The series now shifts to San Antonio for Game 3 on Friday with the teams tied 1-1.

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