Latest:
abr 07 2026SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 115-102 in the NBA, in a game marked by Victor Wembanyama's exit due to a left rib contusion during the first half. Without their star in the second half, Stephon Castle took over with a triple-double of 17 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds to secure the victory for the Texas team against a 76ers squad led by Joel Embiid, who had 34 points and 12 rebounds.
The game began with both teams trying to impose their pace on a key night in the NBA schedule. The San Antonio Spurs found early advantages through ball movement and the energy of their starting lineup, with Victor Wembanyama active on both ends of the floor. The French center added 17 points, five rebounds and three blocks in just 15 minutes before the game took a turn.
The critical moment came with 1:11 remaining in the second quarter. Paul George accidentally elbowed Wembanyama in the ribs while attempting to deflect a pass at midcourt. The French big man remained down for a moment before heading to the bench. Although he returned briefly to the floor, he ultimately left the game for good with 44 seconds remaining in the half due to the left rib contusion.
Without their interior anchor in the second half, the San Antonio Spurs found new solutions in the leadership of Stephon Castle. The young point guard took control of the offensive pace and recorded his fifth triple-double of the season, dominating the game from the point guard position and on the boards. His performance sustained a Spurs team that maintained the initiative throughout against a Philadelphia 76ers squad that tried to rally with the offensive production of Joel Embiid and Paul George's 16 points.
In the third quarter, the Spurs extended their lead thanks to Castle's dynamism and contributions from the bench unit. Luke Kornet, who entered the starting lineup after halftime in place of Wembanyama, contributed 10 points and three rebounds to maintain interior balance. The Philadelphia 76ers tried to close the gap relying on Embiid, but San Antonio controlled the pace down the stretch.
In the final minutes, the Spurs managed the lead intelligently, closing out the game decisively to secure the 115-102 NBA victory and extend their strong regular season.
The win leaves the San Antonio Spurs with a record of 60-19 in the Western Conference, sitting 2.5 games behind leader Oklahoma City Thunder (62-16) and assured of finishing at least in second place in the West.
For their part, the Philadelphia 76ers suffered their second consecutive loss, falling to a record of 43-36 while fighting to avoid the play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference, sitting half a game behind the Toronto Raptors (43-35) in the battle for the sixth seed.
