Thunder Searching for Rhythm After Blowout Loss to Spurs
The Oklahoma City Thunder are still figuring things out, and Tuesday night’s 130-110 loss to the San Antonio Spurs was a loud reminder of that. It wasn’t just a loss-it was their worst of the season, and it came on the second night of a back-to-back. But if you’re looking for excuses, don’t expect to hear them from Jalen Williams.
The All-Star forward was direct after the game: back-to-backs happen to everyone. No one’s immune to the grind of the NBA calendar, and Williams made it clear that the Thunder aren’t leaning on the schedule as a crutch.
“We just gotta be better on the back-to-backs. It's really not that big of a point for us,” Williams said. “Everybody in the league has to play back-to-backs, so for me to sit up here and complain about travel or something is ridiculous.”
That mindset is part of what’s made this Thunder team so compelling. They’re not just young and talented-they’re accountable.
But accountability doesn’t mean ignoring the obvious. Williams pointed to the lack of consistency in the starting lineup this season.
Through the early stretch of 2025-26, OKC’s preferred five-Williams, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Joe, Lu Dort, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-have only started two games together. That lack of continuity is starting to show, especially on nights when the legs are heavy and the margin for error shrinks.
“I think for us it’s just going to be about getting the guys that have been out at inconsistent times just to gel more, defensively, offensively,” Williams said. “Me, Chet, Zay, Lu, Shai - just haven't played minutes together.”
That unfamiliarity has led to some clunky stretches, even for a team that opened the season with an 8-0 record. And while Williams won’t blame the back-to-backs, he did acknowledge one instance where the schedule and injuries collided-when the Thunder had six players out against Portland.
That night, despite being severely shorthanded, they built a 20-point lead before letting it slip. It was their first loss of the season, and a missed opportunity to stay perfect.
“But it doesn't have anything to do with the back-to-backs,” Williams said. “The only one I'll say had something to do [with back-to-backs] is when we had six people out against Portland. And even then, a winnable game that we should have won.”
That’s the tone coming out of the Thunder locker room: no excuses, just expectations. They believe they should win, regardless of the circumstances. And when they don’t, they own it.
Head coach Mark Daigneault echoed that sentiment after Tuesday’s loss, tipping his cap to the Spurs, who outplayed OKC in every phase.
“Credit them. They played great on both ends of the floor from an energy standpoint and an execution standpoint,” Daigneault said.
“They deserve to win the game through and through. Obviously, that was a statement with the way they played.”
This was San Antonio’s second win over the Thunder in as many weeks, and they didn’t just squeak by-they made it clear they’re not afraid of the defending champs. The Spurs were sharper, more physical, and more connected from start to finish. For OKC, it was a wake-up call-and a chance to learn.
“They were the better team tonight. We can learn from it,” Daigneault said.
“Obviously, we have them in two days. We have some lessons from the game that we can carry over, and, obviously, we have to be a better team if we want to beat them on Christmas.”
That rematch comes Thursday at the Paycom Center. It’s a quick turnaround, but also a quick shot at redemption. For a Thunder team still finding its rhythm, there’s no better time to start syncing up than now.