The San Antonio Spurs secured a 136-108 victory against a short-handed Los Angeles Lakers team on Tuesday night, but attention quickly shifted to Stephon Castle’s condition after a frightening fall during the game at Crypto.com Arena. Castle’s injury raised concerns in the second quarter after he landed awkwardly following an attempted block on a dunk from Lakers forward Rui Hachimura.
Details of the Incident and Medical Assessment
With approximately 4:10 left before halftime, Castle went to stop Hachimura’s dunk but ended up falling and lying face down on the court for several minutes, as teammates and staff rushed to check on him. Despite the tense moment, Castle was able to stand and walked off the court under his own power.
Subsequent X-rays of Castle’s back were negative, eliminating fears of serious injury. Instead, he was diagnosed with a pelvic contusion. Castle expressed hope about continuing to play in upcoming games.
“I was hoping to land on my feet,”
Castle said.
“It was kind of like a weird fall. I didn’t expect him to [try to] dunk it. That’s what messed me up. I thought he was going to go for the backboard.”
Coaching Staff Comments and Player Perspectives
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson shared his expectations that Castle would experience significant soreness, particularly around the tailbone, but remained relieved that the injury was not worse.
“His tailbone, I’m expecting to be pretty sore,”
Johnson noted.
“Probably more than pretty sore, but it was good that he walked off and didn’t feel like it was anything else.”
Victor Wembanyama, Castle’s teammate and the game’s top performer, remarked on how unusual it was to see Castle down for so long and expressed confidence in his quick recovery.
“He’s not a guy we’re used to seeing stay on the ground for that long,”
Wembanyama said.
“Every second that passed, I was a little more worried. But he’s one of the toughest guys I know. I’m confident he’s going to come back quick.”
Performance and Season Context for Stephon Castle
Before the injury halted his participation, Castle had recorded two points and seven assists in just 12 minutes of play. This season, the guard has been averaging 16.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game, making him a key contributor to the Spurs’ ongoing efforts.
Implications and What to Expect Moving Forward
The Spurs face an anxious but cautiously optimistic outlook as they monitor Castle’s recovery from the pelvic contusion. His ability to continue playing will be critical for San Antonio’s success, especially as they navigate a demanding schedule. The team’s medical staff will keep close watch, and updates on his availability are expected soon. Meanwhile, the players and coaching staff are rallying around Castle, hopeful for a swift return to form that can sustain their strong season momentum.
X-rays were negative for Steph Castle after his hard fall, per team source. Castle will be out for the second half with a pelvis contusion, as the Spurs are up by over 30 and on a back-to-back.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) February 11, 2026
