Castle’s Monster Night Fuels Spurs, Rockets Rally to Beat Thunder
– Stephon Castle delivered a historic performance, propelling the San Antonio Spurs to their fourth consecutive victory with a 138-125 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets overcame a double-digit deficit to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-106, fueled by Alperen Sengun’s triple-double and a strong showing from Kevin Durant.
Spurs Surge Behind Castle’s Historic Triple-Double
Stephon Castle’s night was one for the record books. The 21-year-old guard exploded for 40 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists, becoming the third-youngest player in NBA history to record a 40-point triple-double, trailing only LeBron James and Luka Dončić. He also joined David Robinson as the only Spurs players to achieve this feat. Castle was remarkably efficient, connecting on 15 of 19 shots from the field.
“It felt good, but more importantly it felt good to do that knowing we were going to get the win as well,” Castle said after the game.
The Spurs dominated the Mavericks, leading 81-67 at halftime and ultimately securing a 13-point victory. Devin Vassell added 17 points, and Victor Wembanyama contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio. The Mavericks, who have now lost seven straight games, were led by Klay Thompson with 19 points, while rookie Cooper Flagg finished with 14 points before exiting the game in the fourth quarter with a stiff back, according to Mavericks coach Jason Kidd.
Rockets Complete Comeback Against Thunder
In Oklahoma City, the Houston Rockets rallied from a 15-point deficit to defeat the defending NBA champion Thunder 112-106. Alperen Sengun recorded a triple-double with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, while Kevin Durant provided crucial scoring, finishing with 20 points. The Rockets closed the second quarter with a 12-3 run and the third with a 15-4 surge to take control of the game.
Sengun’s triple-double was his 10th career triple-double, joining James Harden and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only Rockets players to reach that milestone. Durant also moved into the top 10 all-time in 3-pointers made during the game.
Jokić Makes History, Cavaliers Win with Harden Debut
Elsewhere in the league, Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets etched his name further into NBA history, surpassing Oscar Robertson for second place on the all-time list for career triple-doubles. Jokić finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 17 assists in the Nuggets’ 136-120 victory over the Chicago Bulls. “I think that’s the right way to play basketball,” Jokić said. “Hopefully I’m going to continue to play like that.”
In Cleveland, the Cavaliers welcomed James Harden to the team with a 132-126 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Harden scored 15 points in his debut, while Donovan Mitchell led the way with 35 points. The Cavaliers shot an impressive 29-for-32 from the free-throw line.
Other Notable Results
The Charlotte Hornets continued their impressive run, extending their winning streak to nine games with a 126-119 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. The Los Angeles Lakers pulled away late to defeat the Golden State Warriors 105-99, led by LeBron James’ 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Orlando Magic made a stand, defeating the Utah Jazz 120-117, and the Brooklyn Nets and Portland Trail Blazers also secured wins against the Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies, respectively.
All-Star Saturday Participants Announced
The NBA also announced the participants for the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest and Kia Shooting Stars competition, which will take place on as part of NBA All-Star Weekend. The Slam Dunk Contest will feature Carter Bryant (Spurs), Jaxson Hayes (Lakers), Keshad Johnson (Heat), and Jase Richardson (Magic). The Kia Shooting Stars competition will include Team All-Star (Scottie Barnes, Chet Holmgren, Richard Hamilton), Team Cameron (Jalen Johnson, Kon Knueppel, Corey Maggette), Team Harper (Ron Harper Sr., Dylan Harper, Ron Harper Jr.), and Team Knicks (Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Allan Houston).
