Key Takeaways:
- Stephon Castle tallied 30 points, 21 of which came in the second half, as the Spurs defeated the Lakers 132-119
- San Antonio secured the final NBA Cup semifinal berth and will meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas on Saturday
- Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 35 points, but they fell short despite narrowing the gap to eight points in the fourth quarter
Match Overview
Stephon Castle produced a standout display on Wednesday evening, amassing 30 points – including 21 after the interval – to propel the San Antonio Spurs to a 132-119 triumph against the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Cup quarterfinal. De’Aaron Fox contributed 20 points to the Spurs’ efforts, while Keldon Johnson added 17 points and secured eight rebounds.
San Antonio established a sizable lead midway through the contest and maintained a double-digit margin for much of the final three periods, ultimately booking their place in the tournament’s last four. The Spurs will next face the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas on Saturday, with a spot in the final at stake.
VEGAS BOUND 🎉🎰🤪@FrostBank | #sponsored pic.twitter.com/mWzJdZEBY8
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) December 11, 2025
Lakers’ Efforts Not Enough
Luka Doncic top scored for Los Angeles with 35 points, while LeBron James nearly posted a triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists. Marcus Smart registered a season-high 26 points, knocking down eight three-pointers, and Austin Reaves finished with 15 points. The Lakers managed to reduce their deficit to eight points late in the fourth quarter but were unable to threaten further, ultimately succumbing to only their third loss in 12 games.
| Team | Top Scorer | Points | Key Contributors | Bench Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Spurs | Stephon Castle | 30 | De’Aaron Fox (20), Keldon Johnson (17 pts, 8 reb), Castle (10 reb, 6 ast) | 48 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Luka Doncic | 35 | LeBron James (19 pts, 15 reb, 8 ast), Marcus Smart (26, 8 3PM), Austin Reaves (15) | 31 |
Spurs’ Depth and Castle’s Return Key to Victory
Castle excelled in only his second match back following a 10-game absence due to a hip injury, supplementing his scoring with 10 rebounds and six assists. The Spurs demonstrated impressive depth, as eight players notched at least eight points and the San Antonio bench outperformed their counterparts from Los Angeles 48-31.
San Antonio have now emerged victorious in nine of their last 12 outings, asserting themselves as a force among Western Conference contenders eyeing a challenge against defending champions, the Thunder, both in this week’s tournament and the postseason.
Defensive Woes and Injury Updates
The Spurs unleashed a decisive 17-2 run in the second quarter that produced an 18-point cushion, with Castle and Harrison Barnes capitalising on the Lakers’ ongoing problems defending the perimeter. Victor Wembanyama missed his 12th consecutive fixture due to a calf injury, but accompanied the team on their trip.
What’s Next
- San Antonio Spurs will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas on Saturday in the NBA Cup semifinals
- The Los Angeles Lakers are scheduled to visit the Phoenix Suns on Sunday
