Young Spurs Reach West Finals Behind Castle’s 32-Point Game 6, Will Face Thunder
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The San Antonio Spurs secured a spot in the Western Conference Finals only three seasons after drafting Victor Wembanyama, cruising past the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 30-point road win in Game 6 on Friday.
Head coach Mitch Johnson said the group never fixated on its youth during the season. “We just knew that we had a lot of potential and we were going to try to be the best team we could be,” Johnson told reporters.
Castle leads balanced youth movement
Stephon Castle, the No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft, paced San Antonio with 32 points and 11 rebounds while hitting 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Rookie guard Dylan Harper, selected second overall last summer, added 15 points and five boards off the bench.
“We’re a really talented group that plays together and plays very selfless,” Castle said. “I think we can beat anybody on any given night.”
Fox provides veteran guidance
De’Aaron Fox, 28, has taken on a mentoring role since arriving from Sacramento at last season’s trade deadline. “I want them to feel that success as early as you can get it in your career because you never know when those things can come back around,” the guard said. Fox added that he offers “little tidbits” to help his backcourt partners navigate the league.
Finch regrets defensive matchup
Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch acknowledged a strategic misstep, saying he erred by starting center Rudy Gobert on Castle. “Allowed Castle to get hot early, that certainly wasn’t the plan. That’s on me,” Finch said.
Focus shifts to defending champion Thunder
The Spurs will face the Oklahoma City Thunder, reigning NBA champions, in the conference finals. “The nature of the playoffs means that we’re going to play against better and better teams,” Wembanyama noted, adding that San Antonio trusts its coaching staff to prepare for the next round.
Source: Hoops Rumors
