Castle Scores 17, Adds Five Assists in Spurs' 104-102 Playoff Loss

*TL;DR: Stephon Castle recorded 17 points, five rebounds and five assists in 28 minutes, but the Spurs lost Game 1 to Minnesota 104-102.

The Spurs opened the Western Conference semifinals on the road against the Timberwolves and were edged out by two points. Castle fouled out after 28 minutes, having shot 4‑of‑8 from the field, 3‑of‑5 from three‑point range and 6‑of‑8 from the free‑throw line.

Castle’s output matches a six‑game streak in which he has posted at least 15 points and five assists. During that stretch he has averaged 19.3 points, 5.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 made three‑pointers and one combined steal or block per contest.

The guard’s consistency provides a rare scoring option for a Spurs team that has struggled to find a reliable secondary scorer. His 17 points accounted for 16.3% of San Antonio’s total, while his five assists helped generate roughly a third of the team’s field goals.

Despite the personal production, the loss highlights the Spurs’ reliance on a narrow margin of error. Minnesota’s balanced attack and home‑court advantage kept the game within reach, and the Spurs could not convert key possessions in the final minutes.

Looking ahead, the Spurs must translate Castle’s recent form into a broader offensive rhythm. If he can sustain his 19‑point average and continue facilitating at a near‑six‑assist pace, the team gains a legitimate counter‑balance to veteran guard Devin Vassell. The next two games will test whether Castle’s surge can spark a series turnaround.