Warriors instant analysis: Steph Curry-less Golden State mauled by Spurs

Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News on Nov 14, 2026

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SAN ANTONIO – Draymond Green could only watch as Steph Castle launched a pass toward the rim. Green had been switched onto the perimeter in transition, and behind him remained a disjointed and frazzled Golden State Warriors defense.

A combination of 6-foot-3 Will Richard and 6-2 De’Anthony Melton were also relegated to the role of spectators as the 7-5 Victor Wembanyama reverse dunked in the final two points of an unanswered 18-point run to begin the Emirates Cup game on Friday night.

With an injured Steph Curry watching the game somewhere in the Bay Area after flying back in the afternoon, the Warriors were demolished by the host Spurs 123-85 and it became San Antonio’s 11th victory in a row. The Warriors have now lost two consecutive games after winning eight in a row.

Yaxel Lendeborg had declared pregame that he knew he had to be the “alpha” for the Warriors while Curry recovered from Wednesday’s oblique tear that will sideline him for at least two weeks. His debut in that role could not have gone worse.

After averaging 21.7 points per game across the first 12 games of the season, he finally played a game where he looked like a rattled rookie. Lendeborg put up just three points on 1 of 13 shooting, turned the ball over three times and had even more defensive lapses.

His teammates were not much better. Brandin Podziemski was 2 of 10 from the field, and Melton connected on just 3 of 11 shots.

Texas native LJ Cryer was a rare bright spot for Golden State, scoring 20 points off the bench.

Green did an all right job of keeping Wembanyama from detonating as a scorer. Wembanyama entered the game averaging 30.3 points and 4.4 blocks per game, and finished the night with 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting with 12 rebounds, six assists and two blocks in just 21 minutes.

But Green’s most notable moment was when he received a flagrant foul midway through the second quarter. Wembanyama crashed the glass as Dylan Harper shot and made a 3-pointer, and Green slammed into his back with a full speed run up. Green did not play in the second half.

Castle scored 32 points in 25 minutes, making five 3-pointers and throwing down a series of impressive dunks.

The Warriors (8-5) will, barring delays caused by the FAA grounding flights for several hours on Friday afternoon and evening, travel to New Orleans on Saturday. They will then play at the Pelicans on Monday.