Spurs Beat Lakers 132-119 Without Wembanyama in LA
Spurs 132, Lakers 119: without Wembanyama due to a calf injury, San Antonio dominated Los Angeles behind Castle's 30-point double-double on December 10.
Without Victor Wembanyama, sidelined with a calf injury, the San Antonio Spurs delivered a commanding road statement on December 10, 2025, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119 at Crypto.com Arena in a regular season contest. Stephon Castle led the charge with a stunning 30-point, 10-rebound performance, proving the depth of a Spurs roster capable of winning even without its franchise centerpiece.
Les meilleurs du match
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San Antonio Takes Control From the Opening Tip
San Antonio set the tone early, establishing a rhythm that Los Angeles could never fully disrupt. Stephon Castle was electric from the start, attacking the basket with confidence and connecting on 10 of 14 field goal attempts. De’Aaron Fox complemented his backcourt partner seamlessly, orchestrating the offense while the Spurs built a lead that gave them breathing room throughout the first two quarters. Los Angeles relied heavily on Luka Doncic to generate offense, and the Slovenian star responded, but the Lakers as a unit struggled to match San Antonio’s collective energy and shooting efficiency.
The third quarter proved decisive. Fox continued to apply pressure with his speed and shot-making, finishing with 20 points on 8-of-17 shooting, including 4-of-8 from three-point range. The Spurs stretched their advantage by executing on both ends of the floor, limiting transition opportunities for a Lakers team that needed quick buckets to stay in contention. Keldon Johnson provided a significant boost off the bench area, contributing 17 points and 8 rebounds, bringing physicality and toughness to a game that had genuine playoff-atmosphere intensity.
In the fourth quarter, with the game well in hand, San Antonio never relented. The final score of 132-119 reflected a wire-to-wire dominance that will resonate across the league. Luka Doncic fought admirably for the Lakers with 35 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds, but received insufficient support. Marcus Smart erupted for a surprising 26 points on 8-of-14 shooting from deep, while LeBron James posted a near triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists. Despite those individual efforts, Los Angeles finished minus-16 in LeBron’s minutes against the Spurs’ reserves — a telling sign of San Antonio’s depth advantage on the night.
Castle Erupts, Fox Orchestrates: San Antonio’s Night to Remember
The headline moment of the evening belonged to Stephon Castle. The young guard combined explosiveness, composure, and clutch shooting to produce a 30-10-6 stat line in just 27 minutes, finishing with a plus-minus of +16. His three-point shooting (3-of-6) kept the Lakers’ defense honest, and his seven free-throw attempts reflected how relentlessly he attacked the paint. It was the kind of performance that signals a player arriving on a national stage.
Julian Champagnie also delivered an efficient evening, contributing 16 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block on 6-of-8 shooting. Harrison Barnes rounded out a balanced Spurs attack with 16 points and four three-pointers made. The collective depth — five players in double figures — underscored that this roster is more than a one-man show, even when that one man is the most unique talent in the sport.
Wembanyama’s Absence, Spurs’ Resilience, and What Comes Next
A Night Without the Phénomène
The French phenom was a conspicuous absence at Crypto.com Arena, held out due to a calf injury the Spurs organization prioritized over the appeal of the NBA Cup spotlight. The decision reflected San Antonio’s long-term thinking around their franchise cornerstone — protecting a generational asset rather than risking aggravation for a single regular season game. The n°1 pick of the 2023 Draft did not need to play for the Spurs to win, and that fact alone speaks volumes about this team’s growth.
A Spurs Collective Rising
San Antonio now demonstrates it can beat elite opponents on the road without its best player. The 132-119 final is not just a box score result — it represents a cultural shift for a franchise rebuilding around Wembanyama. Castle’s emergence, Fox’s playmaking, and the supporting cast’s depth form a legitimate foundation. The Spurs’ plus-minus across rotations was a testament to their cohesion and coaching.
Looking Ahead
The Spurs will look to build on this momentum as the regular season continues, and the basketball world will be watching closely for the return of Victor Wembanyama from his calf injury. When the pivot des Spurs steps back on the floor healthy, a team already capable of toppling the Lakers on the road becomes an even more compelling proposition — both for playoff positioning and for the broader NBA conversation around San Antonio’s resurgence.