The 2025-26 Oklahoma City Thunder have been steamrolling through the NBA-except when they run into the San Antonio Spurs. For whatever reason, when these two teams meet, the Thunder’s dominance vanishes, and the Spurs look like world-beaters. Thursday night was no exception.
Behind 29 points from De’Aaron Fox and a double-double (19 points, 11 rebounds) from Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio took down Oklahoma City 117-102. That’s now three meetings, three wins for the Spurs over OKC this season.
The rest of the league? A combined 2-26 against the Thunder.
Wembanyama’s Defensive Presence Has OKC Out of Rhythm
Victor Wembanyama might still be coming off the bench and operating under a minutes restriction, but his impact is undeniable-especially against a team like the Thunder, whose offense thrives on attacking the paint. Wemby’s length and instincts are causing OKC all kinds of problems inside. He’s altering shots, deterring drives, and forcing the Thunder to settle for looks they don’t usually want.
That showed up in the numbers. Oklahoma City went just 11-for-44 from beyond the arc on Thursday-a 25% clip.
For a team that shoots over 36% from deep on the season, that’s a clear sign they were pushed out of their comfort zone. The Thunder typically do their best work inside the arc, using ball movement and pace to create high-percentage looks.
But with Wembanyama patrolling the lane, those driving lanes shrink fast.
In their three losses to San Antonio-all within the last two weeks-OKC has averaged just 107 points per game. Against everyone else?
They’re putting up 122.8. That’s not a small dip.
That’s the Wemby effect.
Efficiency in Limited Minutes
Even with limited floor time, Wembanyama is tilting the matchup. He’s averaging 17.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and a block in just 23.3 minutes per game against the Thunder this season.
And when he’s on the court, the Spurs are a staggering +47 in those minutes. That’s not just good-it’s game-changing.
What’s more, Wembanyama seems to approach these games with a little extra fire. He’s not just playing well-he’s playing like it matters more. And when it comes to his personal battle with Chet Holmgren, the intensity jumps another level.
Wemby vs. Holmgren: A Rivalry Reignited
This isn’t just a matchup of two talented young bigs-it’s a rivalry years in the making. Wembanyama and Holmgren have history, going back to the 2021 Under-19 World Cup when Holmgren’s Team USA edged out Wemby’s France squad in a tight 83-81 win. That game left a mark, and it’s clear both players haven’t forgotten.
On Thursday, the tension was front and center. After fouling Holmgren early in the game, Wembanyama let out a loud “Hell yeah!”
when Holmgren missed the ensuing free throw. That’s not just emotion-it’s personal.
Holmgren pulled down 12 rebounds, but he struggled to score, finishing with just 10 points. And it wasn’t just Wembanyama causing problems.
The Thunder were hesitant to put Holmgren on Wemby defensively, which opened the door for Spurs forwards Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson to exploit mismatches. They combined for 24 points on 9-for-19 shooting, taking full advantage of Holmgren’s slower-footed help defense.
A Budding Rivalry That’s Already Must-See TV
For a Christmas Day matchup, this one delivered-and then some. The Thunder and Spurs might be on different ends of the standings, but when they face off, it feels like playoff basketball. The physicality, the emotion, the individual battles-it’s all there.
And at the center of it all are Wembanyama and Holmgren, two unicorns with a shared history and contrasting styles. Wemby brings the flair, the length, and the defensive dominance.
Holmgren counters with finesse, touch, and elite timing. Every time they share the court, it feels like something bigger is brewing.
This isn’t just a fun subplot-it’s one of the NBA’s best young rivalries. And if the first three meetings this season are any indication, we’re going to be talking about Spurs-Thunder-and Wemby vs. Holmgren-for a long time.