The Oklahoma City Thunder ended their three-game losing streak against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night. With their first win in four meetings, the defending champions have certainly struggled against Victor Wembanyama and Co. in the current 2025-26 season.
Nonetheless, the Thunder managed to take care of business at home this time around. OKC managed to limit the Spurs to 98 points despite missing two starters, Isiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the show with 34 points and four blocks.
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However, SGA refused to make much of this so-called rivalry, as the Thunder improved to 1-3 against the Spurs in their current regular-season series.
“We were able to get stops,” replied SGA when asked about what worked for them this time around.
“We all knew what we were walking into this morning. This team had got the better of us the last few times we played them, and that doesn’t happen to this group. I can’t remember the last time this happened, but uncomfortable feelings and adversities is where you find who you are. Now, from here on, it’s only getting better. Tonight wasn’t our Super Bowl, it wasn’t anything else but another game on an 82-game season. We got to find ways to get better,” added Shai, who believed it was never about the other team for them.
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J-Dub echoes a similar sentiment
After Shai’s comments on the highly publicized matchup between the Thunder and Spurs, Jalen Williams appeared to follow suit. The 24-year-old, who missed a couple of weeks to start the season due to a wrist injury, had the following to say to the media.
“You guys control the rivalry. I don’t really care… You can feel us making them better and them making us better,” J-Dub told reporters, adding how the ball movement over the last three games had impressed him.
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When discussing J-Dub’s performance in the win against the Spurs, he had 20 points on 60 percent shooting from the field. That said, while Shai and Jalen remain defiant about a budding rivalry between the Thunder and Spurs, the media and fans continue to stir the pot.
Elements of a great rivalry
OKC is the title favorite yet again, currently holding the NBA’s best record at 34-7. Adding to it is their deep roster led by a scoring savant in SGA. On the other hand, the Spurs are back in contention after a recent rebuild. The franchise was blessed with a generational talent in 2023, Wembanyama, who is unlike any physical specimen the league has ever seen.
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One cannot rule out the NBA also playing a role in fueling the Thunder-Spurs face-offs. Added to this were Wemby’s remarks on playing pure and ethical basketball, which many felt were a shot at SGA, who has been criticized for his foul-baiting ways on several occasions, earning him the nickname “Free-Throw Merchant”.
Another key factor generating excitement among fans was the prospect of two seven-footers, Chet Holmgren and Wembanyama, going at it. Nevertheless, only time will tell how things shape up between the Thunder and Spurs in the coming days, who are slated to meet for the fifth time this season in February.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.