Vassell’s clash – Devin Vassell stepped in against Oklahoma City’s Ajay Mitchell after a flagrant foul on Stephon Castle, leading to technicals amid the Spurs’ 123-108 Game 3 loss in the Western Conference Finals. Vassell called it protecting a teammate, while coach Mitch Johns
For a moment early in the second half Friday night, the Western Conference Finals stopped being just about baskets.
Devin Vassell got in Oklahoma City’s Ajay Mitchell’s face after a foul during the third quarter of Game 3 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. The sequence started when Mitchell fouled Spurs guard Stephon Castle on a dunk attempt, sending Castle sprawling onto the court.
The officials ruled it a Flagrant 1 foul, and the heat kept coming. Mitchell and Vassell both received technical fouls after their heated exchange of words following the play. When Vassell finally moved in. it wasn’t vague or performative—Spurs security staff wrapped up Castle as Vassell confronted Mitchell.
“I just having my teammate’s back,” Vassell said of coming to Castle’s aid while a Spurs security staffer wrapped up Castle.
“That’s my brother,” Vassell added, referring to Castle. Vassell also pointed out Castle had been fouled on another dunk attempt about 40 seconds earlier by Alex Caruso, which also resulted in Castle falling to the court.
It was the kind of moment that can swing the tone of a game—especially with the series pressure already on. For Vassell, though, the explanation stayed simple: it was about safety and loyalty at the same time. “The first (foul), it’s a basketball play,” he said. “You try to make a play. But two times in a row. He’s about to go up for a dunk and it just looked like he (Mitchell) pushed him. That could be a dangerous play, so I just want to have my teammate’s back.”.
Castle also framed the incident as a sign of how tight the Spurs are. saying Vassell rushing to confront Mitchell reflects how close the Spurs are as a team. “It’s in our nature to just stand up for each other,” Castle said. The 2025 Rookie of the Year also added, “We have to move on and keep our composure throughout the game.”.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson didn’t sound upset about the competitiveness itself—just the risk of crossing the line.
“It’s the playoffs. It’s physical. It’s chippy. It’s all the things all of you all and the world’s talked about,” Johnson said. “So I think that’s very clear. and I think there’s a level of poise and composure and execution you have to play with through that along with the physicality. And that’s what this is. That’s the playoffs and that’s the conference finals and we got to find a way to do it better.”.
Johnson also said he had no problem with the “competitiveness” between the teams, but he indicated he would rather not see his players put themselves in a position to get ejected.
Even with the confrontation behind him, Vassell stayed productive. He finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and four steals in 36 minutes, and it was his second consecutive game of 20-plus points.
The clash landed in a Game 3 that the Spurs ultimately couldn’t control. Oklahoma City won 123-108 in Friday’s third game of the Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center.
Afterward, Johnson pointed to another problem area that night: fouls that put Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the free-throw line. Johnson bemoaned “undisciplined” fouls and said he wasn’t happy with his team’s role in sending Gilgeous-Alexander to the free throw line 12 times in Game 3.
“The two-time league MVP sank all 12 of the freebies on his way to a team-high 26 points in 36 minutes,” Johnson said, and he later connected the numbers back to San Antonio’s mistakes.
“I think probably half of them were from us being undisciplined first off the floor,” Johnson said. “He got us out of position and took advantage of it. I can’t remember how he got all 12 free throws. but I know a few of them were pretty good defense it felt like up until that point. And it’s tough because he gets to spots and he makes tough shots. but you got to keep fighting that urge to try to do more and stay with it.”.
Gilgeous-Alexander hit 6 of 17 shots from the field, but those 12 free throws helped swing the rhythm.
“Those 12 free throws helped out a lot and I can remember at least a few in my head right now that were undisciplined on our end,” Johnson said.
Between the physicality that comes with the conference finals and the thin margin for mistakes. the Vassell-Mitchell moment looked like more than just a scuffle. It was a snapshot of what San Antonio wants to be—protective. close. competitive—and what Johnson knows can’t keep happening if they want to avoid costly consequences.
The night also came with a separate kind of recognition for the defensive side of the league. The NBA announced Friday that Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, the unanimous NBA Defensive Player of the Year, was the lone unanimous selection for the league’s All-Defensive First Team.
Wembanyama’s teammates on the first squad were Oklahoma City forward Chet Holmgren, Detroit guard Ausar Thompson, Minnesota center Rudy Gobert and Boston guard Derrick White, a former Spur. Holmgren and Thompson finished second and third behind Wembanyama in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
The second team consisted of New York forward OG Anunoby, Oklahoma City guard Cason Wallace, Miami center Bam Adebayo, Atlanta guard Dyson Daniels and Toronto forward Scottie Barnes.
Back in San Antonio, Stephon Castle narrowly missed selection to the second team. Castle had 48 total points, including five first-team votes. Houston forward Amen Thompson also collected 48 points, including five first-team votes.
Devin Vassell Ajay Mitchell Stephon Castle Mitch Johnson San Antonio Spurs Oklahoma City Thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Game 3 Western Conference Finals Flagrant 1 technical fouls Victor Wembanyama All-Defensive First Team