Spurs Send a Message: San Antonio Overpowers Thunder, Extends Win Streak to Seven
The San Antonio Spurs aren’t tiptoeing around the NBA’s top-tier teams anymore - they’re charging straight at them. And on Tuesday night, they didn’t just beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, they outplayed and outmuscled the defending champs from wire to wire in a 130-110 statement win at Frost Bank Center.
This wasn’t a fluke or a hot shooting night. This was a team locking in on both ends, dictating tempo, and showing that their recent surge isn’t just a flash - it’s starting to look like a foundation.
And with a Christmas Day rematch looming in Oklahoma City, the timing couldn’t be better.
Spurs Set the Tone with Physicality and Defense
From the opening tip, San Antonio brought the fight. They played with purpose and edge, leaning into a defensive identity that’s been quietly building over the past few weeks. The Spurs forced 15 turnovers and turned those into 20 points - the kind of hustle-to-offense conversion that demoralizes opponents.
Oklahoma City, which came in with the best record in the league, never found its rhythm. The Thunder looked out of sync, and for the first time all season, they found themselves trailing by 20 or more. That moment came in the fourth quarter, when Kelly Olynyk’s free throw pushed the lead to 126-105.
The Spurs didn’t just win the turnover battle. They dominated the paint (60-48) and ran the floor with purpose, outscoring OKC 19-5 on the fast break. Rookie Dylan Harper was everywhere defensively, racking up a career-high five steals and turning defense into instant offense.
This wasn’t just about effort - it was about execution.
Balanced Offense Carries the Load as Wemby Comes Off the Bench
Victor Wembanyama may have seen his streak of 101 straight games with a block come to an end, but the Spurs didn’t need a superhuman performance from their phenom to take control. In fact, that might be the most encouraging part of the night.
Keldon Johnson led the way with 25 points, Stephon Castle followed with 24, and Harrison Barnes added 20. That kind of balanced scoring - with multiple guys stepping up - is what gives this team staying power.
Wembanyama, coming off the bench for the fifth straight game, finished with 12 points. It’s a role that’s allowed San Antonio to keep its offensive flow while managing Wemby’s minutes and matchups more strategically.
Johnson, who’s been through the ups and downs of this rebuild, pointed to something that’s been missing in recent months: the ability to hold a lead.
“We had games this year where we had big leads and we let them slip and we ended up in dogfights,” Johnson said. “To see that little step tonight is huge for us.”
It’s not just about building leads anymore - it’s about sustaining them. And Tuesday night, the Spurs did exactly that.
Thunder Struggle to Adjust to Spurs’ Physicality
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his scoring tear, dropping 33 points to notch his fourth straight game with 30 or more. But the Spurs made him work for every bucket - and more importantly, they kept him off the free-throw line.
Gilgeous-Alexander attempted just five free throws, and the Thunder as a team managed only seven. San Antonio, by contrast, went to the line 24 times. That disparity wasn’t just about whistles - it was about aggression, control, and who dictated the terms of the game.
“They really played the game on their terms on both ends of the floor,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Defensively, they had us stagnant… When you play against a good team, you can’t play like that for long periods of time.”
This was OKC’s second-worst loss in the last two regular seasons - a rare stumble for a team that’s been one of the league’s most consistent.
Christmas Day Rematch Carries New Weight
With Tuesday’s win, San Antonio now owns the NBA’s longest active winning streak at seven games - their best stretch since the 2018-19 season. And they’ll bring that momentum into Thursday’s Christmas Day showdown in Oklahoma City.
It’s the second of four matchups between the two teams this season, and while no one’s officially calling it a rivalry just yet, the tension is starting to build.
Victor Wembanyama, ever measured, acknowledged the rising stakes without jumping ahead.
“It feels like saying it’s a rivalry would be a weird thing because it’s something that builds naturally,” Wembanyama said. “I didn’t say that it’s impossible that it can be [a rivalry] in the future.
I hope it will be soon. But we’re definitely getting closer.”
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson echoed that sentiment - with a coach’s eye on what these matchups mean for his young squad.
“When you’re learning about yourself or your team… to be able to compete and fight against the best, it’s a heck of an opportunity,” he said. “You’d better be ready to go.”
And make no mistake - the Spurs are ready. Tuesday night wasn’t just a win. It was a message.
The arena was packed, the intensity was real, and the physicality never let up. If this is what San Antonio looks like when they’re locked in, then the rest of the league might want to start paying attention.
Because the Spurs aren’t just chasing respect anymore - they’re earning it.