Spurs Storm Past Lakers to Punch Ticket to NBA Cup Semis 132-119

Sometimes, you just know. You watch a player move, and the game seems to slow down around them while everyone else is scrambling in fast-forward. That was Stephon Castle on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

In a game where the stars were out—LeBron James doing vintage LeBron things, Luka Doncic orchestrating the offense—it was the 21-year-old, Spurs sophomore who stole the show, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a decisive 132-119 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.

With the win, the Spurs aren’t just moving on; they’re making a statement. They’re headed to Las Vegas for a Saturday showdown with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and they’re doing it with a swagger that belies their youth.

Castle and the Spurs Conquer the Crypto

Let’s be real: walking into Crypto.com Arena for a win-or-go-home game against LeBron James is a “welcome to the NBA” moment if there ever was one. Stephon Castle didn’t just welcome it; he owned it.

Returning for only his second game after a 10-game hiatus due to a hip injury, Castle looked nothing like a player shaking off rust. He dropped 30 points—21 of which came in a blistering second half—along with 10 rebounds and six assists. He controlled the pace, attacked the rim with fearlessness, and hit big shots when the Lakers tried to make their inevitable run.

“I think we all trust each other with the ball,” rookie Dylan Harper said after the game.

That lack of ego was on full display. With Victor Wembanyama sidelined for his 12th straight game (calf), the Spurs needed a collective effort to fill the MVP-sized void. De’Aaron Fox chipped in 20 points, and Harrison Barnes added 16, punishing a Lakers perimeter defense that looked a step slow all night.

Lakers Run Out of Gas

For the Lakers, this was a tough pill to swallow. They came into this matchup having won nine of their last eleven, riding high and looking to defend their inaugural NBA Cup title.

LeBron James tried to will his team back into it, putting up a monster stat line of 19 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists. Luka Doncic, continuing to acclimate to the purple and gold, led all scorers with 35 points. But it felt empty. Every time Los Angeles threatened to cut the lead to single digits—getting it down to eight late in the fourth—the Spurs had an answer. Usually, that answer was Castle.

Marcus Smart was a bright spot for L.A., catching fire from deep with a season-high 26 points, including eight three-pointers. But when your defense gives up 132 points at home in an elimination game, even a barrage of threes isn’t enough to save you.

The Road to Vegas

The Spurs are now 16-7 and have won nine of their last twelve. They aren’t just a “nice story” anymore; they are a legitimate problem for the rest of the West.

The victory sets up a tantalizing semifinal matchup against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s a clash of young titans, a glimpse into the future of the Western Conference that has arrived ahead of schedule.

As for the Lakers? They head to Phoenix on Sunday to lick their wounds. The quest for another NBA Cup title is over, but the questions about their perimeter defense are just beginning.

For San Antonio, the gamble on youth is paying off. They walked into the lion’s den without their franchise unicorn and walked out with a ticket to Vegas. If Wednesday night was any indication, they aren’t just happy to be there—they’re coming for the whole pot.