The San Antonio Spurs dropped Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, and Stephon Castle took the blame.
The San Antonio Spurs lost Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-113. After a double overtime win in Game 1, the Spurs looked tired, with fatigue getting the best of them.
For the second game in a row, De'Aaron Fox didn't suit up, and Dylan Harper left the game in the third quarter with a leg injury. He did not return.
With a depleted backcourt, the Spurs relied on Stephon Castle to run the offense and manage the floor. Instead, he coughed up nine turnovers, bringing his total this series to 21 miscues. The Thunder were able to capitalize on the Spurs' mistakes, keeping the game just out of reach down the stretch.
Stephon Castle Owns Game 2 Loss
On the offensive end, Castle added 25 points and eight assists, but the general inconsistency did not help the Spurs' cause.
After the game, he didn't shy away from taking responsibvility.
"I think it's more personal on my end, just really speeding myself up, you know, not allowing our screeners to get hits," he said. "So it's putting me in a position where I have to play fast, or my screener might get an offensive foul. I put us at a disadvantage to start the game with those. But I mean, some of it comes with fatigue, but I mean, at this point of the season, it's really no excuse."
While Castle played on-ball for much of the season, he usually had either Fox or Harper to help shoulder some of the playmaking load. In the second half of Game 2, he was all on his own.
"It's not the first time we've been pressured," he added. "I mean, we've been playing basketball for a long time. We get pressured as guards all the time. It was something that, you know, we talked about and went over with our coaches. It's got to be better and cleaner with it."
The Spurs are hoping both Harper and Fox will return to the lineup for Game 3, which will tip off on Friday night in San Antonio. The Silver and Black are hoping for a much-needed boost from their home fans.
