What the Spurs Just Taught the Suns About Beating the Thunder
On the surface, a Christmas Day showdown between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder might not seem like it has much to do with the Phoenix Suns. But dig a little deeper, and that game offered a valuable lesson for a Suns team trying to build a contender in the loaded Western Conference.
Let’s start with the headline stat: the Thunder have only lost five games all season-and three of those losses have come against the Spurs. Yes, those Spurs.
The team still deep in rebuild mode, led by the generational talent that is Victor Wembanyama. That’s not a fluke.
That’s a pattern. And it’s one Phoenix should be paying close attention to.
How the Spurs Are Beating OKC-and Why It Matters
First, let’s acknowledge the obvious: there’s only one Wembanyama. The Suns aren’t going to magically find a 7-foot-4 unicorn who moves like a guard and defends like a prime Kevin Garnett. But what San Antonio has done against Oklahoma City isn’t just about Wemby-it’s about a defensive blueprint that can be studied and, to some extent, replicated.
The Spurs didn’t shy away from switching defensively. They embraced it. Instead of trying to fight through screens or stick with traditional matchups, they leaned into versatility and forced the Thunder to beat them with more than just Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
That’s where things got interesting.
Shai still got his-he’s too good not to-but the Spurs made sure he had to work to get his teammates involved. Every other Thunder player saw different defensive looks, different bodies, and different reads every time they touched the ball.
The goal wasn’t to stop Shai; it was to disrupt the rhythm of everyone else. And it worked.
Even Shai himself acknowledged it after the game: “You don’t lose to a team three times in a row in a short span without them being better than you. We have to get better. Look in the mirror, and that’s everybody from top to bottom.”
That’s a telling quote-and one that should resonate in Phoenix.
Suns Already Following the Defensive Blueprint
Head coach Jordan Ott has made it clear he’s building this Suns team with a defense-first mentality. And we’ve already seen flashes of that vision come to life. One of the Suns’ most impressive wins this season came when they slowed down Wembanyama-something few teams have done-with a mix of physicality and smart switching.
Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale were key in that effort, using their versatility and toughness to make life difficult for the Spurs’ star. Add in the likes of Collin Gillespie, Ryan Dunn, and Dillon Brooks, and you start to see the framework of a defensive unit that can adapt to different matchups.
But there are weak spots. Center Mark Williams struggles to stay in front of smaller, quicker players when forced to switch.
Devin Booker, while improved defensively, still has limitations when asked to guard up or down a position. Against a team like the Thunder, which thrives on creating mismatches and exploiting hesitation, those cracks can become problems.
What Comes Next for Phoenix
The Suns don’t need to become the Spurs. But they can take a page out of San Antonio’s book when it comes to roster construction. If they’re serious about building a team that can contend with the West’s elite-especially a Thunder squad that looks like it’s built for the long haul-they need to prioritize switchable defenders who can guard multiple positions.
That may mean adjusting their asking price for Nick Richards before the trade deadline. It may mean targeting players in the offseason who bring defensive versatility, even if they don’t light up the box score. And it may mean continuing to develop the young talent they already have, especially with Jalen Green expected to return and contribute on both ends.
In some ways, the Spurs and Thunder are polar opposites-one built on raw upside and defensive chaos, the other on structure and star power. But they’ve both revealed something important: in today’s NBA, versatility and adaptability win games.
For the Suns, this Christmas Day matchup wasn’t just a fun watch-it was a scouting report. A glimpse into what it takes to beat one of the league’s best teams. And if they’re paying attention, it could be a turning point in how they build for the future.