The Spurs walked away with a win on Tuesday night, but let’s be honest-this one felt more like a wake-up call than a confidence boost.
Oklahoma City rolled into town missing ten players, including stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain) and Alex Caruso (adductor). Three others are dealing with long-term injuries.
The Thunder essentially fielded a lineup made up of Jaylin Williams, a few rotation bench guys, and three two-way players. On paper, this looked like a scheduled loss for OKC.
But someone forgot to tell that to the guys who suited up.
The Thunder’s patchwork roster didn’t just show up-they competed. And for long stretches, they outplayed a Spurs team that looked like it expected a walkover. San Antonio eventually pulled out a 116-106 win, but it took some late-game focus and key plays from De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle to get there.
Let’s break it down.
A Win That Didn’t Feel Like One
The Spurs came out with the kind of energy you’d expect from a team looking ahead to tomorrow night’s showdown in Dallas. And that’s where things got dicey.
Instead of crisp ball movement and connected defense, we saw too much isolation offense and slow rotations. The Thunder reserves took full advantage, playing free, loose, and with a chip on their shoulder.
Keldon Johnson was the early spark for San Antonio. When he checked in during the first quarter, the tone shifted.
He gave the Spurs the physical edge they needed, helping them build a 39-26 lead after one. But that edge didn’t last.
Andrew Wiggins caught fire from deep in the second quarter, trimming what had been a 20-point Spurs lead down to 10. Carter Bryant answered with a few timely buckets, and the Spurs managed to take a 73-58 lead into halftime. Still, it felt like they were letting the door stay open longer than it should’ve.
Third Quarter Letdown
Coming out of the break, the Spurs looked flat again. The Thunder quickly cut the lead to single digits, and suddenly the game was back in play. Once again, it was Keldon Johnson who stepped up-scoring 13 straight points and almost single-handedly keeping the Spurs in control.
But credit to the Thunder. These were guys who don’t usually get major minutes, and they played like they had something to prove.
They were aggressive, they moved the ball, and they hit shots. They even outscored the Spurs 27-22 in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 10 heading into the final frame.
Crunch Time
The fourth quarter got uncomfortably tight. The Thunder defense turned up the pressure, and suddenly the Spurs couldn’t find easy looks. A few broken alley-oops to Wembanyama turned into transition points for OKC, and the lead was down to four with under four minutes to play.
Stephon Castle, playing through foul trouble, came up huge late. He made smart plays, stayed aggressive, and helped the Spurs close the game out. De’Aaron Fox also delivered in crunch time, hitting shots and controlling the tempo when the game was hanging in the balance.
A Few Notables
- The Spurs used their coach’s challenge late in the third quarter after Fox was called for a foul on what looked like a clean steal. The call was overturned, but the fast-break opportunity was gone.
It’s one of those moments where you wish the rules allowed for a transition take foul or some kind of advantage restoration.
- The Thunder won both of their challenges, including one that raised a few eyebrows. Still, they made the most of every opportunity, and that’s what kept them in it.
- Dylan Harper was a late scratch, which was a tough blow considering how well he’s played lately. He’s been scoring at will in the paint after pushing through the rookie wall. The hope is he’s back for the Dallas game.
- The Knicks and Nuggets went to double overtime in the lead-in game, with New York pulling out a 134-127 win. That’s good news for the Spurs, who now have a bit more breathing room in the Western Conference standings. They sit solidly in second place, with Denver two games back in the loss column.
Bigger Picture
This win gives the Spurs their 34th of the season-matching their total from all of last year. And with 32 games still to go, that’s a sign of real progress. But if they want to keep climbing, they’ll need to bring more consistent intensity, especially against short-handed teams.
Next up is a back-to-back against the Mavericks and their electric rookie Cooper Flagg. The first game is in Dallas, with the rematch coming Friday in San Antonio. That series will be a real test-not just of talent, but of focus.
The Spurs escaped with a win tonight. But if they bring the same energy against Dallas, they might not be so lucky.