The NBA Cup quarterfinals ended on Wednesday with two big Western Conference matchups. The Oklahoma City Thunder crushed the Phoenix Suns, and the San Antonio Spurs surprised the Los Angeles Lakers. Both games showed where each team stands as the tournament heads to the semifinals. One team proved its dominance, while another showed how fast a young group can grow.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Phoenix Suns (138-89)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Kenrich Williams (34) drives to the basket beside Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming (20) during the second half at Paycom Center. Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Winner: Oklahoma City Thunder (Standings: 24-1)
Oklahoma City entered the night with the league’s best record at 23-1, and they looked even stronger after their 138–89 win. They improved to 24-1, tying the best 25-game start in NBA history, matching the 2015–2016 Warriors. Their 49-point win is the largest margin win of this season.
The Thunder dominated in every area. Their defense shut Phoenix down right away, and their offense kept scoring in waves. It was their fifth win by 30 or more points this season. They also extended their winning streak to 16 games, the longest in team history. The gap between them and the Suns looked massive.
Loser: Phoenix Suns (Standing: 14-11)
Phoenix came in at 14-11 and shorthanded. They struggled from the start. Their offense couldn’t create good shots, and their defense had no answer for the Thunder. The game was basically over by halftime. The Suns want to compete in the West, but this loss showed how far behind the top teams they currently are.
San Antonio Spurs vs Los Angeles Lakers (132-119)
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) keeps the ball away from a defending Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Winner: San Antonio Spurs (Standings: 17-7)
The Spurs played their best offensive game of the season, beating the Lakers 132–119 and improving to 17-7. They scored 39 points in the first quarter and stayed hot through the entire game, shooting 50%, making 17 threes, and hitting 29 of their 36 free throws. The team also protected the ball well with only 10 turnovers and scored 27 fastbreak points.
Stephon Castle was the star of the night. The 21-year-old guard put up 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists while shooting 10-for-14. He recently came back from a hip injury but looked completely ready. Only Tim Duncan and Victor Wembanyama had posted similar numbers at his age in Spurs history. His performance showed he’s a big part of the team’s future.
Loser: Los Angeles Lakers (Standings: 17-7)
The Lakers came in with a below-average defense, and it showed. They struggled to guard San Antonio’s drives and fell apart in transition. One play even ended with Harrison Barnes getting an open dunk because the Lakers stopped defending.
Their offense is elite with Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves, but their defense keeps holding them back. This loss highlighted the weaknesses they need to fix if they want to compete for a title.
Conclusion
Wednesday’s games made it clear which teams are in good shape. The Thunder look ready to go after another championship, and the Spurs look like a young team growing quickly and believing in themselves. On the other hand, the Suns and Lakers now have a lot to figure out.
Up next, the semifinals will feature Knicks vs. Magic and Spurs vs. Thunder.