Spurs’ Castle sidelined with hip flexor strain, out 1-2 weeks
Stephon Castle will be missing from the Spurs lineup for at least a week after an MRI revealed a left hip flexor strain. The second-year guard will be reevaluated in one to two weeks, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Monday.
Castle, 21, got hurt during Sunday’s home win against the Kings. He couldn’t return for the second half of the 123-110 victory.
The young guard told reporters afterward he was feeling sore but couldn’t pinpoint exactly when the injury happened.
“When you’re talking about muscles and soft tissue, which I know nothing about, you have to work and then see how your body responds, and then work a little bit more and see how your body responds,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson explained Tuesday before his team beat the Grizzlies 111-101.
“I would be silly to try to sit here and predict all these guys and how they’re going to respond to the different things they’ve got going on.”
This injury comes at a terrible time for Castle, who’s having a breakout sophomore season after winning Rookie of the Year. He’s putting up career-best numbers across the board – 17.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.
The timing is especially tough for San Antonio as they’re already missing their superstar.
Victor Wembanyama sidelined too
The Spurs announced Monday that Wembanyama will miss a few weeks with a left calf strain. The defensive standout was initially listed as questionable with calf tightness before being ruled out for Sunday’s game against Sacramento.
Wemby was spotted at Tuesday’s shootaround, not participating in team activities but doing some light dribbling and individual work on the court.
The Castle-Wembanyama pairing has been electric this season. Just last week, they made NBA history against the Warriors when both recorded 20-point triple-doubles in the same game. They’re only the fifth duo ever to accomplish that feat and the first in Spurs history.
“We don’t sit our guys when they can play and we’re never going to risk or rush somebody back,” Johnson said. “That’s why we’re always operating how we’re operating. Hopefully we’ll get these guys back soon.”
The injury bug didn’t stop there for San Antonio.
Guard Jordan McLaughlin also suffered a right hamstring strain during Monday’s workout at the Victory Capital Performance Center, an MRI confirmed.
The Spurs will try to weather this injury storm as they wrap up their five-game homestand Thursday against the Atlanta Hawks.
