The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 16-game win streak came to a halt Saturday night, falling just short in a 111-109 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. It was a tightly contested game that showcased plenty of firepower on both ends, but ultimately, the Spurs had just a little more in the tank when it mattered most.
Oklahoma City went into the locker room with a narrow 49-46 lead at halftime, but the second half told a different story. The Thunder gave up 65 points over the final two quarters, struggling to contain a Spurs offense that found its rhythm and never looked back. San Antonio had four players hit the 20-point mark - a rare feat that speaks volumes about their balanced attack and ability to spread the floor.
“When you play close games, you’re not going to win them all,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said postgame. “I thought we put ourselves in a tough position there, playing from behind down the stretch.”
The Thunder’s defense, which had been a strength during their winning streak, couldn’t get the stops they needed late. The Spurs knocked down 13 threes and racked up 40 points in the paint - a dual-threat approach that kept OKC on its heels. That combination of perimeter shooting and interior efficiency is hard to beat when it’s clicking, and the Spurs had it going.
Offensively, the Thunder had their moments, but they couldn’t quite match San Antonio shot for shot. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again led the way with 29 points on 12-of-23 shooting. He added five assists and four boards, but also turned the ball over five times - a sign of how disruptive the Spurs’ defense was, particularly in the second half.
“There was a lot of controllable stuff we can learn from that game that wasn’t where we’d like it to be,” Daigneault said. “Sometimes it comes down to make or miss plays.”
And the Thunder missed more than they’d like - especially from deep. They shot just 9-of-37 from three-point range, good for 24%, which simply isn’t going to cut it in today’s NBA. The looks were there at times, but the execution wasn’t.
“It wasn’t our sharpest night,” Daigneault admitted. “Certainly, our attacks weren’t as sharp as they’ve normally been.”
Despite the loss, there’s no reason to hit the panic button in Oklahoma City. A 16-game win streak doesn’t happen by accident, and this team has shown all season that it can compete with anyone in the league. Saturday was a reminder that even the best teams have off nights - especially in a league where the margin for error is razor-thin.
The Thunder will look to regroup and refocus, and if their recent play is any indication, they’ll be back in the win column soon.