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Thunder, Spurs Advance In NBA Cup: League Announces Schedule Changes

December 11th, 2025 at 7:39am CST by Luke Adams

The Thunder and Spurs will meet in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas on Saturday after winning their respective quarterfinal matchups on Wednesday.

The Thunder improved to 24-1 on the season with a blowout home victory over the Suns. The game was never close, as Oklahoma City won each quarter by double-digits and defeated Phoenix by 49 points, making it the most lopsided loss in Suns history.

Oklahoma City made 55% of its three-pointers, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (28 points) and Chet Holmgren (24 points) leading the way and no Thunder player logging more than 27 minutes.

In the late game, the Spurs overcame 35 points from Lakers star Luka Doncic and 26 from Marcus Smart in his return from a back injury to pull off a 132-119 win on the road. Stephon Castle had 30 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in his second game back from a hip injury, while six other Spurs scored in double digits.

The Thunder and Spurs will face one another on Saturday at 8:00 pm Central time for the right to advance to the NBA Cup final on Tuesday. Players on the losing team in that game will receive bonuses of roughly $106K apiece, while the winning team will face either the Magic or Knicks in the championship game a shot at the top prize ($531K per player).

Notably, Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has a shot to return from his calf strain for that game vs. the Thunder, per head coach Mitch Johnson.

“Very much so,” Johnson said after Wednesday’s win when asked if a Saturday return is in play for Wembanyama (Twitter link via Mark Medina). “He had a very good day today. He had a very intense day this morning. We’ll have to see how he responds and reacts tomorrow.”

The Thunder and Spurs will now play each other five times this season, including three times in December. The two clubs are scheduled to square off on December 23 in San Antonio and on Christmas Day in OKC.

The NBA also announced a handful of scheduling updates on Wednesday night, per Medina (Twitter link). The Suns and Lakers, who only had 81 games apiece on their respective regular season schedules, will face one another on Sunday in Phoenix at 7:00 pm CT.

The Thunder and Spurs had both been scheduled to play games on December 17, but those contests have been pushed back one day to Dec. 18 in order to give them an extra day of rest following the NBA Cup. OKC will now host the Clippers next Thursday, while San Antonio hosts the Wizards that night.

Spurs Notes: Harper, Fox, Castle, Wembanyama

December 10th, 2025 at 8:09am CST by Luke Adams

No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper helped lead the Spurs to a victory over New Orleans on Monday with a 22-point, six-assist outing, proving that he can be successful in his role even when De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle are both available. Still, as Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required) writes, it was evident with all three of those guards were healthy and active for the first time this season that there are still some kinks to work out in the backcourt.

While Harper thrived, Castle showed some rust in his first game back from a hip injury, making just 5-of-15 shots and turning the ball over three times in 23 minutes. Meanwhile, McDonald suggests that Fox seemed “unsure of when to assert himself” — the former All-Star scored just 14 points on 4-of-11 shooting and committed four turnovers.

Still, the trio of Harper, Castle, and Fox combined for 54 points and 18 assists in a three-point victory over the Pelicans, and Harper is optimistic that it won’t be long before all three players are firing on all cylinders.

“This is just a little sample size of what you’re going to see,” the rookie said, per Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required). “When (Castle) really gets back into the groove of things, we’re going to be scary.”

“I’m trying to get adjusted to the game,” Castle added. “Having a little three-week break, I’m trying to get back in rhythm.”

Here’s more on the Spurs:

Harper’s teammates were impressed by the way that the 19-year-old bounced back from his worst game of the season – a 1-for-11 dud in Cleveland on Friday – to set a new career high in points on Monday, as Orsborn relays. “He has so much skill and maturity to his game,” Fox said of Harper. “It’s a long season. I’ve talked to him about that as well. You’re not going to play well in every single game. It would be asinine to think that.”
Although head coach Mitch Johnson said this week that Victor Wembanyama is “getting closer” to returning from the calf strain that has sidelined him since November 14, the big man has been ruled out for Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Lakers, as Orsborn writes for The Express-News. The Spurs have taken a cautious approach with Wembanyama’s recovery timeline, and Johnson noted earlier in the week that the NBA Cup game wouldn’t be treated any differently, “medically speaking.”
While many of the Spurs’ cornerstone players – including Wembanyama, Harper, and Castle – are in their early 20s, the team also has a handful of veterans in their 30s – such as Harrison Barnes, Kelly Olynyk, and Bismack Biyombo – providing leadership in the locker room. In a story for The Express-News (subscription required), McDonald explores how those two generations of players have meshed and the mentorship that the vets have provided. “At times, the older ones are barking at the younger ones like older dogs do puppies,” Johnson said. “Other times, the bigger personalities step up and command the room. Sometimes, you have this electric energy from these young guys. It’s a good balance.”

Southwest Notes: Fox, Spurs Injuries, Pelicans Core, Coward

December 7th, 2025 at 5:03pm CST by Eli Cohen

With Victor Wembanyama out, De’Aaron Fox has stepped into a leadership role and brought the Spurs‘ offense together, Jared Weiss writes for The Athletic. Fox has become increasingly comfortable getting into the teeth of the defense and then kicking out to shooters, Weiss writes. He has also helped the team get its turnover issues under control.

Weiss notes that the Spurs’ game plan around Wembanyama can, at times, make their offense more predictable, but Fox’s speed and creativity add wrinkles that will help open things up as he continues to build chemistry with San Antonio’s young star.

Fox has also helped the offense with his improved shooting from deep, writes Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. Despite averaging 33.2% from three for his career, he is currently shooting 37.8% on 6.4 attempts per game, a weapon which was deployed on two clutch possessions to seal a victory over the Magic on Wednesday.

“If we’re going to play one-on-one, a lot of defenders in this league give me a step, knowing that I’m trying to get downhill,” Fox said. “If they give me the step, I have the confidence to step back, knowing that I have time and space to knock shots down.”

We have more from around the Southwest Division:

Stephon Castle and Luke Kornet are both questionable for the Spurs’ game against the Pelicans on Monday, McDonald notes (via Twitter), adding that there’s some level of optimism about both being able to make a go of it. Castle missed the last nine games for San Antonio with a hip injury, while Kornet missed the Spurs’ loss against the Cavaliers with an ankle injury. Castle is averaging 17.3 points, 7.5 assists, and 1.7 steals in his second season.
While rumors have begun to circulate about the future of the Pelicans‘ core veteran trio of Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Herbert Jones, some sources around the team say that New Orleans has not held trade talks with other teams about any of the three, reports Rod Walker for NOLA.com. The Pelicans are currently a league-worst 3-21 on the season.
The Grizzlies‘ prized rookie Cedric Coward is looking to accelerate his development by seeking guidance from one of the league’s great wings, Kawhi Leonard, according to Matt Infield of WMC Action News 5 (Twitter video link). “I asked him, like, in the summer, could we get some work in together?” Coward said after the Grizzlies’ win over the Clippers on Friday. “He’s not on social media, so I gotta figure out a way to talk to him.”

Wembanyama, Castle Return To Spurs Practice

December 7th, 2025 at 4:01pm CST by Rory Maher

Star center Victor Wembanyama and 2025 Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle were full participants in the Spurs‘ practice on Sunday, according to Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News, who reports that backup guard Jordan McLaughlin participated as well.

“It’s definitely amazing to see everyone back working,” guard Dylan Harper said. “We did well without those guys. Now when they come back, you’ll see a whole other team.”

Wembanyama has missed the past 10 games with a left calf strain he sustained on November 15. He is not expected to play in Monday’s game vs. New Orleans and is considered “iffy” for Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal at the Lakers, McDonald writes.

Castle, who has been out for the last nine games due to a left hip flexor strain, is likely to return to action tomorrow against the Pelicans, per Michael C. Wright of ESPN (Twitter link).

Veteran point guard McLaughlin will at least be out again Monday, says McDonald. He has been dealing with a right hamstring strain.

Obviously, the injury updates are welcome news for the Spurs, who will soon be getting two of their top players back. San Antonio is currently 15-7, the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference.

Fischer’s Latest: Giannis, Knicks, Nets, Hawks, Spurs, Warriors

December 5th, 2025 at 8:04am CST by Luke Adams

When the Bucks briefly explored the possibility of a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade over the summer, the Knicks were the only team they spoke to, with the star forward having reportedly expressed some interest in the idea of playing in New York.

Given Antetokounmpo’s apparent affinity for the Big Apple, the Nets have long believed they could have a real shot at winning the Giannis sweepstakes if he ever ends up on the trade block, writes Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). However, according to Fischer, while the Knicks continue to be viewed as a credible threat to land the two-time MVP, Brooklyn is no longer being described in the same terms.

As Fischer explains, the Nets are prioritizing a high pick in the 2026 draft in the hopes of landing a young franchise player to build around, and don’t have the sort of championship-caliber roster that Antetokounmpo would be seeking in the event that he requests a trade.

The Knicks, conversely, have a roster better equipped to contend with Giannis, but may lack the assets to sell Milwaukee on a deal. For what it’s worth, Fischer hears from multiple sources that Antetokounmpo told at least one Bucks teammate during the offseason that he thought a deal with the Knicks was close to happening, though multiple reports have indicated that the two teams didn’t gain real traction in their discussions.

Here’s more from Fischer:

The Hawks could make a compelling offer for Antetokounmpo by offering the 2026 first-round pick they acquired from New Orleans back in June. If the Bucks were to acquire that pick, they’d control both their own and the Pelicans’ first-rounders in the upcoming draft. Fischer says he has been repeatedly – and “quite strongly” – told since the start of the season that Atlanta won’t trade that “most favorable” first-rounder, which could end up with the best odds to be No. 1 overall, but he believes the Hawks’ front office would have to at least consider the idea if it meant adding a superstar like Giannis.
The Spurs have talked to Antetokounmpo’s U.S.-based agent Alex Saratsis multiple times over the years about the possibility of joining their front office, sources tell Fischer. Despite that link between the two parties, Fischer says there’s no guarantee San Antonio would be a major player in the Giannis sweepstakes if he seeks a deal, noting that the Spurs have thus far been unwilling to consider moving either Dylan Harper or Stephon Castle, even for Antetokounmpo.
During past trade discussions for other players, the Warriors have “never been close” to putting both Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski in the same package, Fischer writes. They also have never seriously entertained any scenario in which they trade Draymond Green. However, Fischer thinks the club would be open to reconsidering both of those possibilities if Antetokounmpo is on the table.

Southwest Notes: Edey, Morant, Wembanyama, Castle, Zion

December 2nd, 2025 at 7:20pm CST by Rory Maher

Second-year center Zach Edey has helped change the trajectory of the Grizzlies‘ season after returning to action in mid-November, writes Michael Wallace of Grind City Media. After a 4-11 start, Memphis has won five of its past six games, largely due to the two-way play of the former Purdue star.

“(Edey’s impact has meant) everything,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said. “Great job overall by him and the whole team for realizing that’s where the advantage is.”

The 7’3″ big man from Toronto had the best game of his NBA career on Sunday in Sacramento, dominating the Kings en route to 32 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks in just 29 minutes. He shot 16-of-20 (80%) from the field and Memphis was plus-25 with the 23-year-old on the court in the eight-point win.

“I’ve just been really comfortable this year,” Edey said of a stretch that made him a finalist for NBA Western Conference Player of the Week honors. “I’ve been settling in, feeling like I’m back at Purdue a little bit – just comfortable. It feels like everybody’s been playing good basketball, executing the game plan and the vision. And that’s what we’ve been working for.”

Over the past three games — all victories — Edey has averaged 19.3 PPG, 17.0 RPG and 3.3 BPG while shooting 71.8% from the field in 32.0 MPG.

Here’s more from around the Southwest:

While it’s too early to say how meaningful it is, Ja Morant was visibly engaged with and encouraging his teammates and coaches during the Grizzlies‘ win on Sunday, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. As Amick observes, Morant has been the subject of trade chatter this fall amid a very poor start, disinterested body language, and a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. Memphis will continue to receive buy-low trade calls on Morant, Amick writes, with the Kings and Timberwolves among the clubs monitoring the situation. But for now, the injured point guard seems to be pleased with the team’s turnaround. “It’s a huge advantage for us,” Iisalo said of Morant’s engagement on the sidelines. “It’s during the games. He’s … asking stuff of me and giving some tips there for the guys. Overall, really good communication, really good leadership, both from him and also from Jaren (Jackson Jr.) and our veteran guys.”
Injured Spurs Victor Wembanyama (left calf strain) and Stephon Castle (left hip flexor strain) are out again on Tuesday vs. Memphis, but they are making progress and have begun on-court work, relays Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (via Twitter). According to Mike Finger of the Express-News (Twitter link), neither player will travel to Orlando for Wednesday’s back-to-back, and while there’s a chance they could eventually join the four-game road trip that runs through next Wednesday, that doesn’t necessarily either of the past two Rookie of the Year winners will play during that stretch.
Two days before it was reported that he would miss extended time with a strained adductor, Pelicans star Zion Williamson expressed confidence that he had turned the corner on his injury woes, per Athlon Sports contributor Mark Medina. “I haven’t felt like this since college, high school,” Williamson said Sunday. “I walk in the gym, and I feel good.” While interim head coach James Borrego praised Williamson in other ways, he said at the time he’d like to see the former Duke forward improve as a leader, Medina adds. “That’s one area of growth for him that he and I consistently talk about: it’s how to lead,” Borrego said. “He’s obviously a talent. But the more he can lean into leadership and grow into his teammates, that’s where he wants to go. I just see a curious individual, trying to get better in all aspects of his game.”

Spurs’ Castle Out At Least 1-2 Weeks With Hip Injury

November 18th, 2025 at 4:14pm CST by Luke Adams

After undergoing an MRI on Monday, Spurs guard Stephon Castle has been diagnosed with a left hip flexor strain, the team announced today in a press release. The injury occurred during Sunday’s game against Sacramento.

The Spurs’ announcement simply states that updates on Castle will be provided “as appropriate,” but ESPN’s Shams Charania reports (via Twitter) that the reigning Rookie of the Year will be reevaluated in one-to-two weeks. That means Castle will be sidelined for upcoming matchups with Memphis (Tuesday), Atlanta (Thursday), and Phoenix (Sunday) and could miss additional time beyond that.

Castle, 21, had gotten off to a strong start this fall in his second NBA season, averaging 18.4 points, 7.8 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game on 50.3% shooting in his first 12 games before getting injured in his 13th outing.

The Spurs will now be without three of their top four scorers, as Castle joins Victor Wembanyama (calf strain) and Dylan Harper (calf strain) on the inactive list. According to the team, point guard Jordan McLaughlin is also expected to miss some time, having been diagnosed with a right hamstring strain after undergoing an MRI on Monday. He sustained the injury during a workout.

While there were questions in the offseason about the Spurs’ logjam at point guard, the team’s depth will come in handy in the near future. Even with Castle, Harper, and McLaughlin on the shelf, San Antonio should get star-level production at the position as long as De’Aaron Fox stays healthy.

Fox’s season debut was delayed due to a hamstring injury, but he has started each of the club’s past five contests and appears to be rounding into form — he has averaged 26.0 points and 10.5 assists in his past two games.

Wembanyama Sustains Left Calf Strain, Out Multiple Weeks

November 17th, 2025 at 3:53pm CST by Rory Maher

Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has been diagnosed with a left calf strain after undergoing an MRI, the team announced in a press release. The French center suffered the injury in Friday’s loss to Golden State.

While the Spurs didn’t give a return timeline for the former No. 1 overall pick, ESPN’s Shams Charania hears Wembanyama will miss a few weeks (Twitter link).

Through 12 appearances this season, Wembanyama has averaged 26.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.1 steals and a league-high 3.6 blocks in 34.7 minutes per game. He’s second in the league in rebounds per contest (Nikola Jokic is at 13.0) and holds a shooting slash line of .500/.345/.857.

The 21-year-old big man missed his first game of the season on Sunday due to the injury — head coach Mitch Johnson indicated Wembanyama experienced soreness in his calf on Friday and would undergo testing.

According to Michael C. Wright of ESPN (Twitter link), Wembanyama was wearing a “small sleeve” on his calf in the locker room following Sunday’s win, but was otherwise in good spirits and didn’t seem to be in any pain. Still, San Antonio is known for being cautious with injuries, and calf strains are notoriously tricky to manage — they can also lead to more severe injuries.

Both Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press and Wright (Twitter links) hear Wembanyama will be reevaluated in two-to-three weeks, confirming Charania’s reporting.

Backup center Luke Kornet and veteran big man Kelly Olynyk are among the Spurs who could receive more playing time with Wembanyama out.

Second-year guard Stephon Castle was also hurt recently, having suffered a hip injury on Sunday which prevented him from returning from the victory over Sacramento (Twitter link via Matthew Tynan). It’s unclear if the reigning Rookie of the Year will miss additional time as a result of the injury.

Several noteworthy players — including Anthony Davis, Ja Morant, Wembanyama and Spurs rookie Dylan Harper — have been diagnosed with calf strains in recent weeks.

Spurs Notes: Castle, McLaughlin, Wembanyama, Champagnie, Harper

November 8th, 2025 at 8:32pm CST by Arthur Hill

Stephon Castle was happy to win Rookie of the Year honors last season, but he told Marc J. Spears of Andscape that it doesn’t change anything about his approach to the game. Castle was selected for the award by a wide margin, getting 92 of 100 first-place votes, but now he wants to focus on other goals, like getting the Spurs into the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

“I feel like once you get it, your name is installed in history,” Castle said of the ROY trophy. “And then you have to go make your career after that. I’m not going out there saying, ‘I’m the Rookie of the Year and give me a vet (officiating) call, respect me.’ You got to go out there and play. I’m not really thinking about that (award) when I’m playing in the game. I’m just trying to improve every year.”

Castle is off to an even better start to his second NBA season — averaging 18.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists through eight games — and he’s been handling the starting point guard duties while De’Aaron Fox was sidelined. He’s also San Antonio’s best perimeter defender and routinely gets assigned to handle the opponent’s top scorer.

“He can impact winning whether he is on the ball, off the ball, defensively,” coach Mitch Johnson said. “He is going to guard a ton of different profiles in terms of premier players on teams. He has an opportunity to affect the game as much as anybody.”

There’s more from San Antonio:

Reserve guard Jordan McLaughlin scored nine points in nine minutes on Friday night as the Spurs opened NBA Cup play with a win over Houston, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required). McLaughlin saw limited action last season after being acquired from Sacramento in February, but management liked him enough to re-sign him to a one-year, $3MM deal. “That’s why we brought him back,” Johnson said after Friday’s game. “He’s a professional, a mature adult, a great teammate who’s a really cerebral, skilled basketball player.”
Victor Wembanyama was impressed by former WWE star Mark Henry, who chatted with players during a visit to Frost Bank Center on Friday, per Mike Finger of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required). Billed as “the world’s strongest man,” Henry passed along a few weightlifting tips to Wembanyama, who Finger notes still frequently finds himself outmuscled by opponents. “Kevin (Durant) was in the same boat early,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “Until you get that strength, the first thing that everybody’s going to try to do is be physical with you.”
Fox’s return to action means Julian Champagnie is coming off the bench for the first time this season, tweets Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News. Champagnie was averaging a career-high 30 minutes per night and scoring 10.1 PPG through the season’s first eight games.
Prior to tonight’s contest, Johnson told reporters that Dylan Harper, who’s sidelined with a left calf strain, hasn’t resumed physical activity yet, relays Jared Weiss of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Spurs Notes: Arena, Sochan, Waters, Olynyk, Castle

November 5th, 2025 at 11:58am CST by Luke Adams

The Spurs took a significant step on Tuesday toward building a new downtown arena in San Antonio, according to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press, who reports that voters in Bexar County, Texas approved a measure that will allow officials to put up to $311MM in venue taxes toward a new building.

While the proposal had been opposed by several local lawmakers and advocacy groups, just over 52% of voters supported it, per county officials.

The Spurs have expressed a willingness to commit at least $500MM toward construction of the new arena, with a proposed $489MM coming from the city, per Reynolds. The $1.3 billion arena plan is still in the early stages, with no proposed timeline for construction of the building yet. The Spurs’ lease at their current arena, Frost Bank Centers, runs until 2032.

Here’s more out of San Antonio:

While the Spurs are dealing with a number of injury absences, including point guards De’Aaron Fox (right hamstring strain) and Dylan Harper (left calf strain), a handful of players appear on the verge of returning to action. Jeremy Sochan (left wrist sprain), Lindy Waters III (bilateral eye procedure), and Kelly Olynyk (left heel surgery) are all listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game vs. the Lakers and have a “chance” to make their season debuts, a team spokesman tells Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required).
As Orsborn writes, the Spurs have exhibited plenty of caution when it comes to bringing back players from injuries, which those players appreciate. “The best part is we know they have our back,” Julian Champagnie said of the team’s coaches and medical staff. “They want us to play basketball for a long time and be healthy for the team ultimately. So, rushing a guy to come back to play, it is not going to do us no good. We’d rather go out there with what we have and trust what we have on the bench than force a guy to come back and potentially hurt himself some more.”
Olynyk’s season debut will also be his Spurs debut, so it could take him some time to get acclimated to a new situation after being traded from New Orleans to Washington to San Antonio during the offseason. However, head coach Mitch Johnson is confident that the veteran big man will fit nicely with the Spurs once he’s ready to return, Orsborn writes (subscription required). “He’s seen the whole league – I think he’s been with six or seven teams,” Johnson said. “Some (of those teams) have won a ton, some have lost a ton. He’s very skilled. He’s played a few different positions in terms of what his role’s been on certain teams he played with. And I think he’ll be someone we can fit with quite a few lineups and will really be able to help us as the season goes on.”
After being named Rookie of the Year in the spring, Stephon Castle‘s next individual goal is to make an All-Defensive team. According to Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Johnson challenged Castle during the offseason to impact winning on both ends of the floor, and the second-year guard has been tasked with handling the most challenging perimeter defensive assignments this fall. “It’s going to be a great opportunity for his versatility,” Johnson said. “… He is going to guard a ton of different profiles in terms of premier players on teams. He has an opportunity to affect the game as much as anybody.”