Spurs Survive Wembanyama Scare, Rout Bucks Behind Castle’s Brilliance 119-101

There is a specific, heavy silence that descends upon San Antonio when Victor Wembanyama hits the floor and doesn’t immediately get up. It is the sound of thousands of people holding their breath at once.

For a few agonizing minutes on Thursday night at the Frost Bank Center, that silence was deafening. But by the time the final buzzer sounded, the dread had dissolved into pure, unadulterated noise. The Spurs didn’t just survive an injury scare to their franchise cornerstone; they rallied around his return to dismantle the Milwaukee Bucks 119-101.

While the box score will show a comfortable 18-point victory, the narrative of the night was written in the first quarter. When Wembanyama knocked knees with Giannis Antetokounmpo under the basket, the entire trajectory of the Spurs’ season seemed to flash before the eyes of the home crowd. Seeing the 7-foot-4 phenomenon limp unassisted to the locker room was a grim reminder of a similar play against the Knicks on New Year’s Eve.

But this time, the story had a different ending.

Wembanyama Returns to Dominate the Paint

When Wembanyama emerged from the tunnel to start the second quarter, sporting a freshly shaved head and a renewed intensity, the energy in the arena shifted instantly. He didn’t look like a player nursing a bruise; he looked like a man on a mission.

Despite the limited minutes in the first half, Wembanyama finished with a stat line that has become almost routine for him but remains absurd to everyone else: 22 points and 10 rebounds. His presence in the paint forced the Bucks to alter their shots, and his offensive gravity opened up the floor for his teammates. It was a statement performance that proved the Spurs’ resilience.

Castle and Fox Control the Backcourt

While the French phenom grabbed the headlines, the Spurs’ backcourt orchestrated the blowout. Stephon Castle continues to look like one of the league’s premier young guards, orchestrating the offense with the poise of a ten-year veteran. Castle posted a masterful double-double, dropping 19 points and dishing out 10 assists.

He wasn’t alone. De’Aaron Fox added 18 points, using his blistering speed to keep the Bucks’ defense on their heels all night. The chemistry between Castle and Fox is becoming a problem for the rest of the league, providing San Antonio with a dual-threat engine that can score in transition or dissect defenses in the half-court. With Julian Champagnie crashing the glass for 13 points and 11 rebounds, San Antonio had too many weapons for a struggling Milwaukee team to contain.

Bucks Woes Deepen with Third Straight Loss

On the other side of the floor, the Milwaukee Bucks looked like a team searching for answers. This was their third consecutive loss, and the frustration was palpable. Coming off a demoralizing blowout against Minnesota, where they were booed on their home floor, the Bucks needed a bounce-back performance. They didn’t get it.

Giannis Antetokounmpo did what he could, fighting his way to 21 points, but he lacked consistent help. Kyle Kuzma chipped in 18 points off the bench, and Bobby Portis added 13, yet the team’s defense was porous. The Bucks allowed San Antonio to shoot over 50% from the field. Milwaukee sits at 17-24 on the season, a record that falls well short of expectations for a team with playoff hopes.

A Third Quarter Avalanche

The game was effectively decided immediately after halftime. Leading by 13 at the break, the Spurs came out of the locker room and absolutely suffocated the Bucks. San Antonio won the third quarter 40-16, a massive swing that pushed the lead to as many as 39 points.

It was a clinic in two-way basketball. The Spurs forced turnovers, got out in transition, and buried Milwaukee under a barrage of three-pointers and dunks. By the time the fourth quarter began, both coaches had emptied their benches, turning the final frame into a formality.

What’s Next for San Antonio

The win moves the Spurs to an impressive 28-13 record, solidifying their status as a legitimate power in the Western Conference. They are now 14-5 at home and have shown they can beat the league’s best even when adversity strikes early in the game.

San Antonio will look to keep the momentum rolling when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night. If Thursday was any indication, the Spurs are not just a team of the future—they are a problem right now.