The Oklahoma City Thunder may be the reigning NBA champions, but Kendrick Perkins isn’t sugarcoating the stakes heading into their Christmas Day showdown with the San Antonio Spurs. The former NBA big man and current ESPN analyst called it a “must-win” for OKC - and not because of standings or seeding, but because of what it means for the team’s mindset.
Let’s unpack why this game carries more weight than your typical December matchup.
Spurs Have the Thunder’s Number - and They Know It
So far this season, San Antonio hasn’t just beaten Oklahoma City - they’ve rattled them. The Spurs have taken both head-to-head matchups, and they’ve done it in different ways.
First, they edged the Thunder 111-109 in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas. Then, just days ago, they followed it up with a dominant 130-110 win on their home floor.
That’s not just a win - that’s a statement.
Perkins pointed to the Spurs' physicality on the perimeter - big guards, long wings - as a key factor in making the Thunder uncomfortable. And he’s not wrong.
San Antonio’s size and versatility have disrupted OKC’s rhythm, something few teams have managed to do over the past year. That’s why this third meeting, on the league’s biggest regular season stage, matters so much.
A Confidence Game
Perkins framed the matchup as a battle of belief as much as basketball. “You want to kill that confidence,” he said of the Spurs, who are currently sitting second in the Western Conference and riding high.
“And if you’re SGA, you want to have a chip on your shoulder. You want to take it personal.”
That’s where this game becomes a mental test for Oklahoma City. The Thunder are the champs, but the Spurs are playing like they believe they can take that crown.
And the longer OKC lets San Antonio dictate terms, the more that belief grows. This game isn’t just about getting back in the win column - it’s about resetting the tone in a potential playoff rivalry.
All Eyes on OKC - and SGA
The Thunder won’t be able to sneak into this one under the radar. The Christmas Day slot - 2:30 p.m.
ET on ABC and ESPN - puts them in the national spotlight. And for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it’s a chance to make a little history of his own.
SGA is set to become the first player since LeBron James in 2013 to appear on Christmas Day as both the reigning NBA MVP and Finals MVP. That’s elite company, and it adds another layer to an already loaded storyline. This is the kind of moment where stars show why they’re stars - and where leaders set the tone for the rest of the season.
More Than Just a December Game
Yes, it’s still early in the season. No, this game won’t decide the Western Conference.
But as Perkins emphasized, it can shape the psychological landscape moving forward. If the Thunder let the Spurs beat them a third time - and on their home court, no less - it plants a seed of doubt.
Not just for the Thunder, but for the rest of the league watching.
On the flip side, a win would be a powerful reminder of who still wears the crown. It would halt San Antonio’s momentum, restore some swagger in Oklahoma City, and send a message that the champs aren’t going anywhere.
“You want to kill that confidence, and if you’re SGA, you want to have that chip on your shoulder.”@KendrickPerkins says today’s #NBAXmas matchup is a MUST-WIN for the Thunder 👀 pic.twitter.com/nyP68Skmca
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) December 25, 2025
So when the ball tips off on Christmas afternoon, it won’t just be about who scores more points. It’ll be about who controls the narrative - and who walks away believing they’re the team to beat.