Wembanyama, Castle Achieve Historic Triple-Doubles Despite Spurs Loss

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Victor Wembanyama and Keyonte George Castle made history on Wednesday, becoming the first teammates in NBA history to each record a 20-point triple-double in a loss during a game against the Golden State Warriors. Despite their impressive individual performances, the San Antonio Spurs fell to the Warriors 116-109.

Wembanyama scored 31 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and dished out 10 assists, while Castle added 23 points, 10 rebounds, and also recorded 10 assists. Their tenacity was evident in a late-game play when Wembanyama launched a full-court inbounds pass to Castle, who converted it into a basket with just 0.2 seconds left.

“I was thinking about [the double triple-double], of course,” Wembanyama said post-game. “I don’t even remember the score, but I think it was the right decision.”

Although the duo’s achievements were significant, both players expressed disappointment in the loss. “Obviously, we wanted to win,” Castle stated. “But yeah, happy to get [two triple-doubles].” This marked Castle’s first triple-double of his young career, and the excitement was palpable despite the defeat.

Golden State’s guard Klay Thompson prevented the Spurs from claiming victory by scoring a game-high 46 points. The Warriors overcame a 16-point first-half deficit to seize a 10-point lead in the final minute of the third quarter. In the last six seconds of the game, Wembanyama’s assist ensured an impactful conclusion despite the loss.

“Those guys were competing,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson noted about Wembanyama and Castle. “They’re doing a lot of good. We just have to navigate some of the peaks and valleys.”

The Spurs’ early season has shown promise with an 8-3 record, their best start since 2016-17, largely due to the budding chemistry between Wembanyama and Castle. Both players hinted at their dedication to improving their teamwork as they prepare for a promising future, a contrast to last season when injuries limited their time together.

“We take pride in being two-way players,” Castle added. “Our identity on this team is defense.” The understanding and commitment to each other’s strengths suggest that as the season progresses, the duo known as “Area 51” will continue to thrive.