The Spurs handled the Bucks on Saturday afternoon, with more big games from Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle.
The Spurs have reached the final stretch of the regular season and are showing no signs of slowing down. In their latest outing, San Antonio raced past the Bucks 127-95 in Milwaukee. The win moved the Spurs to 56-18 and clinched a top-two seed in the Western Conference.
As the wins keep stacking up for San Antonio, the play of its superstar duo Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle has been on the rise and has played a key role in the success. The Spurs are in the midst of an eight-game win streak and have dropped only two games since February 1.
During this hot streak, Wembanyama has showcased his ability to be not only the central figure in San Antonio but the entire NBA. He dropped a game-high 23 points on Milwaukee alongside 15 rebounds and six assists.
While he's not the most dynamic scorer in the league, he has put together 10 performances of 20 points or better in his last 12 outings. In those two exceptions, he tallied 19 and 18 to barely miss the threshold.
To go alongside his scoring, Wemby has remained a force on defense and the glass. He's averaging four blocks a game, with multiple blocks in seven of his last 10 games. Rebounding has been just as successful, as he touts an average of 11.5 boards per game.
Wemby has quietly moved up in the NBA Most Valuable Player conversation following this recent surge. He made his case by citing his dominance on both sides of the court and team success, especially over Oklahoma City. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder appear to be the biggest threats to San Antonio, but Wemby and the Spurs already boast a 4-1 record in their series.
Wemby may be the face of the Spurs but Stephon Castle could easily be labelled the heart of the team. The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year has excelled in his sophomore season. He finished narrowly behind Wembanyama with 22 points against the Bucks, but he grabbed 10 boards and 10 assists to complete the triple-double in the victory.
With few exceptions, Castle's offensive production has been nearly identical to his counterpart during their lengthy winning spell. He's averaging just shy of 16 points this season and has broken double-digits in eight of his last 10 games.
Outside of scoring, he's been a great facilitator and opened the floor for the Spurs. He has an average of 8.3 dimes per game in an unselfish display.
When Wembynama and Castle are in their zones, it is rare that San Antonio loses. Not only because the pair can light up the scoreboard, but they have skillsets that compliment each other and create opportunities for the rest of the Spurs.
The regular season has proven to be good for the duo but uncharted territory lays ahead. The Spurs are back in the postseason for the first time in the tandem's career and will look to lean on them for success in the return trip.