SALT LAKE CITY – Victor Wembanyama and rookie Stephon Castle led the charge as the San Antonio Spurs took down the Utah Jazz 128-115 in an NBA Cup game on Tuesday night.

Wembanyama was unstoppable, dropping 34 points, including six three-pointers, and shooting 13-of-23 from the field. Castle matched a season-high with 23 points, while also contributing 5 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1 block.

IMAGE GALLERY | 33 photos from the game

The Spurs overcame another sluggish start, flexing their defensive muscle and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities to secure the win. It marked their fourth consecutive victory and sixth in their last eight games, showcasing the team’s growing confidence and momentum.

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After narrowly avoiding a knee-to-knee collision, a jubilant Wembanyama declared, “This is our identity.” It’s clear the Spurs’ identity is built around a relentless, disruptive defense—something they’ve leaned into heavily over the last four games.

“We hang our hats on defense,” said Sandro Mamukelashvili. “It’s the most important thing for us, and the coaching staff is very strict about it.”

The Spurs stifled the Jazz, forcing them into 21 turnovers and turning those mistakes into 33 points. A quartet of defenders—Julian Champagnie, Chris Paul, Tre Jones, and Blake Wesley—combined for 12 steals, a testament to the team’s activity on the defensive end.

“The activity was great,” said acting head coach Mitch Johnson. “Blake Wesley, Julian Champagnie, and Sandro led the way in the second half. Their energy flipped the game, especially on defense, and they were huge on the boards too. It was a great team effort.”

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Despite facing a tall and tough Utah team, the Spurs dominated the glass, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds to put themselves in position for a strong fourth-quarter push.

“I feel like our connectivity throughout the game just builds up,” said Castle. “It just unleashes once we get to the fourth quarter.”

San Antonio, dealing with injuries to key players earlier in the season, is finally finding its rhythm. As their roster returns to full strength, depth has become a major asset.

“It’s a game-changer knowing you can sub out your starters and not miss a beat,” Castle added.

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Julian Champagnie, who added 15 points on 44% shooting from beyond the arc, summed up the team’s mindset: “We don’t want to let each other down. No matter who’s in the game, we’re playing for each other, and that’s what’s driving us.”

The Spurs will look to keep the momentum going as they prepare for a big game against the Los Angeles Lakers at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Frost Bank Center.

Devin Vassell, who has been sidelined with injury, is expected to return and will be a key piece as San Antonio looks to continue their impressive run.

Takeaways

Jazz: Shot 51% from the field but had 21 turnovers. Utah leads the league in turnovers per game.

Spurs: Finished with 30 assists after entering with an average of 27.9 per game. The Spurs outrebounded Utah 25-15 in the second half.

Key moment

Chris Paul hit a 3-pointer to beat the shot clock with 1:43 left to give the Spurs a 121-109 lead. San Antonio held Utah to 22 points in the fourth quarter.

Key stat

Markkanen was 0 for 6 from 3 before he was injured. After shooting 45% from 3 in the first half, Utah made 4 of 14 from long range in the second half.