Facing another tough, energized team and a rabid crowd on the road, Oklahoma City dropped its second straight game to the Spurs and its third loss in the last five contests. The Thunder were nearly at full strength, Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander was brilliant again, and the team shot a respectable 12‑of‑30 from long range. But San Antonio pulled away late, winning the turnover battle and converting transition and half-court opportunities alike into 43 fourth-quarter points.
San Antonio led by only two points at halftime and by nine entering the fourth quarter, but the final period turned into a runaway as the Spurs handed OKC a rare, decisive defeat. The Spurs drilled 6 of 9 three-pointers in the final frame, leading Mark Daigneault to wave the white flag and bench the starters down 16 with 3+ minutes remaining.
Final: Spurs (22‑7) def. Thunder (26‑4), 110‑130
The Thunder started hot, but looked sluggish compared to the Spurs on the travel night of a back‑to‑back. San Antonio forced 4 turnovers and set the tone in the first quarter.This was not a fun loss. But this is going to be a fun rivalry.What makes San Antonio formidable isn’t just Victor Wembanyama. Like the ascending Thunder teams of the past, the Spurs profile like a pack of young, ferocious athletes who will soon be knocking on the champs’ door. Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are a dream trio of young building blocks. Role players like Keldon Johnson (5‑9 on threes) veterans play with confidence and aggression that OKC rarely sees. Whether Castle was pouring in threes (24 points, 4-6 3PA) or Harrison Barnes (20 points on 6-9 FGA) was attacking Chet Holmgren one‑on‑one, the Spurs brought the fight to OKC through their entire rotation.Chet struggled all night: just 7 points and 3 rebounds.SGA was brilliant throughout, lifting OKC against the Spurs’ imposing defense when things looked clunky. 33 points and 8 assists while going 14-22 from the floor.My petition for one permanent adjustment against the Wemby Spurs: always have Shai on the floor when Wembanyama darkens the paint. The crowd booed Shai for “flopping” on a made and‑one in a game where OKC attempted only seven free throws compared to San Antonio’s 24. The free‑throw‑conspiracy brain continues to rot.And then there’s Lu Dort. Dort had a great shooting night (5-8 3PA) but also played the poster boy for foolish flops and fouls. He hilariously fell against Wembanyama on a missed three, then dangerously kicked his legs at Barnes on a made three that got waved off.In another Dort-centric replay moment, OKC lost a challenge on a Dort foul on De’Aaron Fox. Fox absorbed light contact down low during an otherwise clean strip, a foul by the letter of the law. That’s the kind of call people deem illegitimate when it favors Shai, but it’s really a reminder: guarding NBA playmakers within the rulebook is very difficult.Daigneault has been weirdly cold on challenges this season.Also weird: Fox missed all four of his free throws in the first half.Michael Cage was upset after Wembanyama delivered a hard foul on SGA’s breakaway layup, complaining Wemby had “no chance” to block the shot when swinging near Shai’s head. I’m sorry, but “no chance” just isn’t a thing considering Wembanywama’s reach.Isaiah Hartenstein looked better physically after resting the night before. In a game with so little space in the interior, IHart was especially valuable working every nook and cranny as a passer and release valve.Aaron Wiggins nailing a three in Wemby’s eye brought a tear to mine.Jalen Williams keeps getting to the shots he wants; they’re just not falling yet. And he keeps shaking that wrist.It’s just unfair that the Spurs always have one of the following athletes on the floor at all times: Wembanyama and Luke Kornet.Kornet and Wemby shared the paint for a brief stretch in the second quarter. Despite San Antonio fielding 14.5 feet of fronctourt height, Shai got his cleanest look in the lane all season. One Key Takeaway: Schedule Losses
The Thunder started the season on a historic tear, but this prolonged stretch of competition has brought them back down to earth. But they have not been exposed as a fraudulent title-defending team. Three of OKC’s four losses have come on the road on the second night of back‑to‑backs, and this was the first one they had little chance to steal late.
Are the Thunder the greatest team ever? That dream has faded fast. Are they the best team in the league, chasing a title repeat? Absolutely, but it’s time to start measuring them against their contemporaries instead of ghosts from the past. And it won’t be easy. The Pistons are now just two games back from the overall #1 seed. Winning another championship will demand OKC’s best now until the playoffs, when the schedule is always tough.