The Spurs of Wembanyama, kryptonite of the "invincible" OKC Thunder
San Antonio defeated Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's team again on Christmas, making it 3 out of 3 games played this year.
San Antonio Spurs once again showed that they have the formula to unsettle the NBA champions. On Christmas Day, the Spurs defeated Oklahoma City Thunder 117-102, securing their third victory in two weeks against the defending champions.
With a solid and collective performance, San Antonio extended their great moment. De’Aaron Fox led the offense with 29 points, while Victor Wembanyama contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds on a night when the Texans were efficient and disciplined. Stephon Castle also shined with 19 points and seven assists.
Mitch Johnson's team dominated with offensive execution and defensive intensity: shooting 53.6% from the field and holding the Thunder to just 38.9%, unusual for a team that usually sets the pace and asserts dominance.
For the Spurs (23-7), it was their eighth consecutive victory, while for Oklahoma City (26-5), it was their first home loss of the season. The contrast is striking: the Thunder has a perfect record against the rest of the league except when facing San Antonio. In fact, it is the first time since 1966-67 that a team has suffered three of its first five losses against the same opponent, according to ESPN data.
"It feels like a playoff series," Wembanyama confessed, highlighting the strategic nature of these consecutive matchups. "We are learning a lot, but we can't reveal too much."
Shai wasn't enough
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored at least 20 points again — extending his streak to 102 games— but he didn't have his best night: finishing with 22 points and 7 for 19 shooting. Isaiah Hartenstein added 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Chet Holmgren recorded a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.
The Thunder, who started the season 24-1, are now going through a more turbulent stretch with a 2-4 record in their last games, including these three losses against San Antonio. It is also the first time since 2021-22 that they have lost consecutive games by at least 15 points.
"We have to be better," acknowledged Gilgeous-Alexander. "You don't lose three times in a row against the same team if they are not better than you. We need to grow if we want to achieve our goals."
Spurs and Thunder will face each other again on January 13th and February 4th, in what is already shaping up to be a rivalry that could set the tone for the playoffs in the West.
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