Spurs Keep Rolling Behind Vassell, Castle and a Locked-In Wembanyama in Blowout Win Over Hawks
There’s no rest on the NBA grind, and the Spurs are embracing that reality with the kind of swagger that comes from playing your best basketball of the season. Less than 24 hours after a home win, San Antonio was back on the road - again crossing time zones - but you wouldn’t have known it by the way they handled business in Atlanta. The Hawks, also on the second night of a back-to-back, never really stood a chance.
This one was over early, and the Spurs made sure of it.
Hometown Heat: Vassell and Castle Set the Tone Early
It was a homecoming to remember for Devin Vassell and Stephon Castle. Both Georgia natives, they came out firing in front of friends and family.
Vassell wasted no time getting comfortable, knocking down three triples and scoring 9 of San Antonio’s first 11 points. Castle added another three, and just like that, the Spurs were up 18-11 six minutes in.
The Hawks had no answer for Castle’s drives - his ability to get into the paint and finish was a problem all night, especially with Atlanta lacking any real rim protection. Victor Wembanyama checked in midway through the first and immediately made his presence felt on the defensive end, altering shots and disrupting rhythm.
By the end of the first quarter, the Spurs were up 32-19, riding a 9-0 run sparked almost entirely by their Georgia duo. Vassell and Castle combined for 21 points in the opening frame - more than the entire Hawks roster. That’s how you announce your homecoming.
Wemby Finds His Groove, Spurs Run Away Before Halftime
The second quarter was more of the same - San Antonio dictating pace, Atlanta scrambling. Dylan Harper used his speed and touch to slice through the Hawks’ soft perimeter defense, while Wemby started to cook offensively. He poured in 11 points in the period, and while one bucket was wiped away on a questionable charge call, the impact was undeniable.
And just when it looked like Harrison Barnes might be stuck in a shooting slump for good, he finally broke through with a three-pointer - his first in four games. That capped off a dominant first half for the Spurs, who went into the break leading 68-44. That’s a 24-point cushion built on energy, execution, and a whole lot of confidence.
Third Quarter Surge Keeps Momentum Rolling
Mitch Johnson has been preaching strong third quarters all season, and his team has responded lately. So when the Hawks opened the second half with a 7-2 spurt, Johnson didn’t wait - he called a quick timeout to reset the tone.
The response? Exactly what you’d want to see.
Vassell got back to work with a dunk and a three, and Wembanyama brought the fireworks off the bench - a couple of blocks, a three-pointer, and a highlight-reel dunk that had the Hawks’ bench shaking their heads. The Spurs ripped off an 8-0 run to push the lead back to 26, and by the end of the third, they were up 102-72. That’s four straight games winning the third quarter - a trend that’s starting to feel like a signature.
Wemby’s Most Complete Game Since Returning
This was arguably Victor Wembanyama’s most complete performance since coming back from injury. He looked more in control, more assertive, and more comfortable than he has in recent outings. His final line: 26 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks - and every bit of it felt impactful.
He also played what looked like a “ramp-up” stretch in terms of minutes, staying on the floor from the 8:35 mark of the third quarter until nearly two minutes into the fourth. He looked a little winded at times, but powered through - a promising sign that he’s ready for a heavier load moving forward.
And for those keeping an eye on the 65-game rule for end-of-season awards: Wemby logged 21 minutes tonight, which keeps him on track. He used one of his two allowable “near miss” games (15-19 minutes) in the previous outing, but tonight’s workload gives him some breathing room with six more missed games still allowed.
Fourth Quarter Cruise Control
With the game well in hand, the fourth quarter was extended garbage time. The starters got a few more minutes to push the lead as high as 38 before checking out for good. The Hawks, dealing with injuries and short on depth, had to keep their rotation players in longer, but the damage was already done.
Lindy Waters and Jordan McLaughlin provided a few late buckets to keep things steady, and the Spurs walked away with a 126-98 win - their second five-game winning streak of the season. The first came way back at the start of the year, and now they’ve matched it heading into the holiday stretch.
For context, that early-season streak was the franchise’s first since 2019. Now they’ve done it twice.
Georgia Connection Shines Bright
Vassell and Castle didn’t just show out - they led the way. They combined for 35 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists, and 5 made threes.
They were also the only Spurs starters in double figures, and they did it in front of their home crowd. Whether you call them the “Pineapple Boys” (a nod to their matching hairstyles) or the “Twins,” this duo is starting to build something special.
And with both hailing from towns just an hour apart in Georgia, there might be room for a new nickname that nods to their roots.
Spurs Sweep Season Series, Help Their Draft Outlook
The Hawks, despite the loss, are still sitting comfortably in the East’s postseason picture - currently 9th, but just 2.5 games out of third and 3.5 games ahead of the 11th seed. But there’s a little extra juice here for Spurs fans: San Antonio owns the right to swap first-round picks with Atlanta in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Now, that swap might not be a game-changer - the Hawks’ pick is trending toward the late lottery or just outside it - but the Spurs did their part by sweeping the season series. Every little edge counts when you’re building for the future.
Bottom Line: This was a wire-to-wire win for San Antonio, fueled by hometown energy, elite defense, and a Victor Wembanyama who’s starting to look like himself again. The Spurs are finding their rhythm, and if this is the version of the team we’re going to see moving forward, they’re going to be a handful - not just for lottery teams, but for anyone standing in their way.