Castle's 40-point triple-double fuels surging Spurs past Mavericks for 4th straight victory

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio guard Stephon Castle had a career-high 40 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists for his second career triple-double, leading the Spurs past the Dallas Mavericks 138-125 on Saturday.

Devin Vassell had 17 points and Victor Wembanyama added 16 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio, which set a season high for points in a half with 81 before halftime.

The Spurs (36-16) won their fourth straight and ninth in 12 games to remain second in the Western Conference.

Dallas, which lost 135-123 at San Antonio on Thursday night, got 19 points from Klay Thompson, 18 from Brandon Williams and 17 from Max Christie. Cooper Flagg finished with 14 points.

Castle joins Hall of Famer David Robinson as the only Spurs in franchise history with a 40-point triple-double.

The second-year guard from Connecticut punctuated his triple-double by following up a miss with a windmill dunk that put San Antonio up 129-108 with 6:26 remaining.

Castle’s first triple-double was Nov. 12, 2025, against the Golden State Warriors when he had 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 125-120 loss the Golden State Warriors.

Marvin Bagley III, A.J. Johnson and Tyus Jones all debuted for Dallas. Bagley and Johnson were acquired in a trade that sent Anthony Davis to Washington and Jones was part of a subsequent deal with Charlotte for Malaki Branham.

Bagley had an immediate impact, scoring eight points in his first five minutes off the bench while powering down two dunks and blocking shots by Vassell and Harrison Barnes.

Bagley finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

San Antonio will not play in the Frost Bank Center again until March 5 as they embark on their annual Rodeo Road Trip. The Spurs will play two games in Austin during that road trip that are considered home games.

Mavericks: At Phoenix on Tuesday night.

Timberwolves: At Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) goes to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) scores over Dallas Mavericks forward Klay Thompson during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (7) drives against Dallas Mavericks forward Marvin Bagley III during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Dallas Mavericks forward Marvin Bagley III (35) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) goes to the basket against Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

NEW YORK (AP) — Los Angeles Angels slugger Jorge Soler began serving a four-game suspension Wednesday night against the New York Yankees after his penalty for getting into a fight with Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López was reduced.

Hours earlier, Soler's punishment was cut by three games in an agreement between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association.

“Obviously, Jorgie’s been swinging the bat really hot now, so it’s unfortunate that we have to miss him for four games,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said at Yankee Stadium before his team's 5-4 loss. “But, you know, it is what it is and we have to deal with it. And we definitely will be waiting for him to come back.”

Both players were initially suspended seven games and fined by MLB last week after they got into a brawl on the field and were ejected from a game between the Braves and Angels in Anaheim, California.

Each player appealed, and an agreement was quickly reached between MLB and the MLBPA that trimmed López’s ban to five games. That penalty took effect immediately, and López was able to make his next scheduled start Tuesday against Miami thanks to an off day in Atlanta's schedule.

Soler is batting .231 with five homers, 18 RBIs and an .849 OPS. He went deep Tuesday night, the last of three straight solo homers by the Angels in the first inning of a 7-1 victory at Yankee Stadium.

The 34-year-old Soler had started all 18 games for the Angels this season — 15 at designated hitter and three in right field. He began the day leading the American League in RBIs, and he's hitting .313 (10 for 32) with four homers, two doubles, 12 RBIs and a 1.175 OPS in his past 10 games.

Third baseman Yoán Moncada was the DH on Wednesday night, with Oswald Peraza at the hot corner. Right fielder Jo Adell moved into Soler's cleanup spot in the lineup, and the Angels were forced by rule to play a man short on the bench.

“I just try to tell ’em wherever they are in the lineup, just be themselves,” Suzuki said. “I think sometimes you can tend to overdo things if you’re in that spot or mentality, but I think Jo’s at a place now where he’s comfortable with what he’s doing. He knows what he has to do. He knows just being himself is plenty.”

Soler homered off López in the first inning April 7, then was hit by a 96 mph fastball from the right-hander his next time up. In the fifth, Soler charged the mound after López threw a high-and-inside wild pitch that tipped off catcher Jonah Heim’s mitt.

At first, López held up his hands as the two glared at each other before both started throwing punches.

“I asked him if everything was OK and the answer he gave me, I didn’t like it,” Soler said that night through an interpreter, according to MLB.com. “That’s why I went out there.”

The benches and bullpens emptied as players from both teams tried to separate the two. Atlanta manager Walt Weiss was among those who tackled Soler, the 2021 World Series MVP with the Braves.

López was still holding the baseball when he landed a punch on Soler’s batting helmet. The two were teammates in Atlanta during the second half of the 2024 season, and López said through an interpreter there was “never any intent” to plunk Soler.

Atlanta led 4-2 when the fight occurred and went on to a 7-2 victory.

Soler’s two-run shot in the first inning made him 14 for 23 with five homers and three doubles against López.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Los Angeles Angels' Jorge Soler (12) hits a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees , Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Los Angeles Angels' Jorge Soler (12) is tackled to the ground by Atlanta Braves players as a fight breaks out during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Los Angeles Angels' Jorge Soler (12) reacts after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees , Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Los Angeles Angels' Jorge Soler (12) and Atlanta Braves' Reynaldo López (40) fight during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)