The [San Antonio Spurs](https://www.poundingtherock.com) fell to the Sacramento Kings in De’Aaron Fox’s return game to split the season series at two-apiece.
De’Aaron Fox’s return started strong after he hit his first shot of the night, a mid-range effort from the left-side of the floor. A shot he had probably hit in that arena thousands of times before. The forgotten former King, Harrison Barnes also started the game strong as he was red-hot from three, hitting from both corners to open up a small lead for the Spurs in the opening few exchanges. The first quarter was about the Spurs staying connected on defense and making life hard for the home team as they allowed just twenty points in the first twelve minutes. On the other end of the floor, Stephon Castle had nine points in the opening frame, being his usual aggressive self and getting to the rim at will. San Antonio led 26-20 after one.
The momentum swung in the second frame as the Kings size in the paint started weighing on the Spurs with Sacramento getting second chance opportunities nearly every time down the floor if they didn’t convert on their first attempt. The visitors tried to double Jonas Valanciunas but that just allowed the Kings wide-open threes which Zach LaVine happily took advantage of with 16 of his 18 first-half points coming in the final twelve minutes of the half. With San Antonio’s offense not able to keep up with the Kings, they went into the half-time break down fourteen, 56-42.
The Kings kept scorching hot from the outside to start the third period, as they opened up a lead as many as 27. The Spurs bench unit was the story of this quarter for the visitors with Stephon Castle, Jeremy Sochan and Keldon Johnson changing the pace of the game as soon as they stepped on the floor. They picked up the pace and intensity and helped the Spurs grind back into arms length of the Kings. That was until five quick Devin Carter points in the final minute of the quarter gave the home team some much needed breathing room, 95-76.
If San Antonio were going to make a miraculous comeback in the final quarter they needed a fast start, and they got just that. A 9-2 run in the opening two minutes got the lead down to twelve and forced a Sacramento timeout. Unfortunately this is the closest the Spurs would get, as the Kings made enough buckets throughout the fourth to keep the Silver & Black at bay. De’Aaron Fox’s return to Sacramento ended with a 127-109 defeat.
### Play of the game
Another game, another Castle highlight:
### Game notes
* **Rebounding.** In a storyline that has haunted the Spurs all season, their rebounding woes were at the forefront once again in this game. They were out-rebounded 65-46 and gave up sixteen offensive rebounds. San Antonio don’t box-out, they don’t rebound as a collective and are almost always second to loose balls. These are the types of plays that winning teams make and until the Spurs prove they can do the little things they won’t be anywhere near where they want.
* **Final 1/4.** Now that De’Aaron’s return game is out of the way, the Spurs and Fox should opt for him to get the surgery to repair his fingers asap. This will allow Fox to be able to return to the court earlier in the summer and get a couple of good months in the lab with his new teammates to prepare for next season. The Spurs should now all but focus on the development of their younger players in these final 21 games. Castle, Vassell, Sochan and Keldon should eat the majority of the minutes with vets such as CP3 and Barnes sprinkled in.
* **Spurs Player of the Game:** Stephon Castle. The rookie kept his recent run of form going with another stellar all-around game. Steph had 25 points on 10/17 shooting with three assists and two rebounds. Well on his way to being Rookie of the Year.
### Next game: @ Minnesota on Sunday
The Spurs now head to Minnesota for their final game with the Timberwolves this season before they return home for a four-game homestand.