The Oklahoma City Thunder are heading to San Antonio on Wednesday for their fifth and final regular-season clash with the Spurs - and there’s a little extra juice behind this one. After dropping the first three games in the season series, OKC finally got one back with a convincing win on Jan.
- Now they’ll look to even the score on the road, riding the high of a dominant performance less than 24 hours ago.
Tuesday night, the Thunder looked every bit like a team that sits near the top of the Western Conference standings. They dismantled the Orlando Magic, 128-92, in a wire-to-wire win that showcased their depth and unselfishness.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his All-NBA campaign with a smooth 20-point, nine-assist outing, doing his damage efficiently and without breaking a sweat. But the story of the night?
Isaiah Hartenstein, who recorded the first triple-double of his career - 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. That kind of all-around impact from a frontcourt player gives OKC another dimension, especially on a night when their starters didn’t need to log heavy minutes.
But the Thunder won’t have much time to celebrate. Wednesday’s game marks the second night of a back-to-back, and while the official injury report hasn’t dropped yet, a couple of names are already ruled out.
Nikola Topic remains sidelined following surgery, and Thomas Sorber is still recovering from a torn ACL. With limited rest and a tough road environment ahead, the Thunder will need to lean on their depth once again.
On the other side, the Spurs are coming off a solid win of their own - also against the Magic - where they pulled out a 112-103 victory. Victor Wembanyama continues to look more and more comfortable as the season wears on.
He posted 25 points and eight rebounds, flashing the kind of versatility that makes him one of the most intriguing young stars in the league. De’Aaron Fox played the role of floor general, finishing with 14 points and 10 assists, keeping the offense humming.
As for San Antonio’s injury situation, they’re in relatively good shape. Stephon Castle is listed as questionable with adductor tightness, while Jeremy Sochan (quad), Lindy Waters III (knee), and David Jones Garcia (G League assignment) are all out. Still, with Wembanyama healthy and Fox running the show, the Spurs have more than enough firepower to make life difficult for OKC.
Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. CT at Frost Bank Center.
With both teams coming off wins over the same opponent, and the season series on the line, expect a competitive, high-energy matchup. The Thunder are looking to continue their climb - but the Spurs won’t be rolling out the red carpet.