SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The San Antonio Spurs made history against the Golden State Warriors on Friday night, opening their NBA Cup matchup with an 18-0 scoring burst that stands as the franchise’s longest game-opening run in the play-by-play era, which dates back to the 1996-97 season.
The remarkable start surpassed the Spurs’ previous best of 16 unanswered points, recorded against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 11, 2026. San Antonio’s latest run established a new benchmark across the last 30 seasons, including playoff games, according to the league’s play-by-play-era record tracking. The NBA’s official play-by-play from the January meeting documents the earlier 16-0 start.
Castle Helps Ignite A Historic Start
San Antonio scored the first 18 points over the opening 4 minutes and 29 seconds, putting immediate pressure on a Warriors team playing without injured superstar Stephen Curry. Stephon Castle was central to the surge, scoring eight points during the opening stretch as the Spurs attacked decisively and disrupted Golden State’s early offensive rhythm.
Golden State missed its first 11 shots from the field before Gui Santos finally ended the drought with a layup. The Warriors’ slow start left them facing a 38-14 deficit at the end of the first quarter, according to the game report. The NBA game page lists the matchup as an NBA Cup West Group C contest.
Spurs Turn Fast Start Into A Dominant Win
The opening burst set the tone for a commanding 123-85 victory, extending San Antonio’s winning streak to 11 games. The Spurs led 63-33 at halftime and built their advantage to as many as 43 points before completing the 38-point win.
Castle finished with a season-high 32 points, five rebounds and six assists, providing the scoring punch that helped San Antonio maintain control. Victor Wembanyama added 12 points and 12 rebounds in limited playing time, while Keldon Johnson contributed 18 points. For Golden State, LJ Cryer led the way with 20 points, but the Warriors struggled to find consistent offense without Curry. The CBS Sports game recap and box score provide the final statistics.
Why The Record Matters
Opening runs are not simply a measure of scoring efficiency. They reflect how quickly a team can impose its preferred pace, create defensive pressure and force an opponent to abandon its initial game plan. San Antonio’s 18 unanswered points did all three before the Warriors had managed a single field goal.
The previous 16-0 opening came during a dramatic January meeting in Minneapolis. The Spurs eventually lost that game 104-103 after Minnesota erased a 19-point deficit, making the contrast with Friday’s emphatic finish particularly striking. The NBA’s January 11 game summary records the Timberwolves’ comeback and final score.
Friday’s result also reinforced San Antonio’s strong form in the early part of the season and strengthened its position in NBA Cup West Group C. For Golden State, the defeat highlighted the challenge of replacing Curry’s scoring and playmaking while he recovers from a right oblique injury. More than the final margin, however, the Spurs’ 18-0 start will be remembered as a franchise milestone from the opening minutes of a statement performance.