The Frost Bank Center was rocking, and for good reason - the San Antonio Spurs just handed the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder a 130-110 loss that turned more than a few heads. What made it even more impressive?
Victor Wembanyama, the face of the franchise and the presumed centerpiece of every Spurs headline this season, played a relatively quiet game. But that didn’t matter.
Because Keldon Johnson and rookie Stephon Castle came ready to steal the show - and they did just that.
This wasn’t a fluke or a one-off. It was the second time this month San Antonio has knocked off the Thunder, a team that’s been steamrolling much of the league.
And this time, the Spurs didn’t need to grind it out with defense like they did in their earlier 111-109 win on December 13. This was an offensive clinic - clean, confident, and relentless.
Let’s start with the Thunder, who still got a big night from their star. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did everything he could to keep his team in it, dropping 33 points on an ultra-efficient 14-of-22 shooting night.
He was aggressive, poised, and productive - exactly what you expect from an MVP-caliber guard. Jalen Williams chipped in with 17 points, while Luguentz Dort added 15 on just eight shots.
But beyond that trio, OKC’s offense hit a wall.
Chet Holmgren, usually a reliable two-way presence, struggled to find his rhythm, finishing with just seven points on 3-of-10 shooting. Isaiah Hartenstein added eight points off the bench, but the Thunder’s supporting cast simply didn’t have enough juice to keep pace. And when your defense gives up 57.1% shooting from the field and 44.4% from deep - while also sending your opponent to the line 24 times - you’re not leaving yourself much margin for error.
Turnovers didn’t help either. Oklahoma City coughed it up 13 times, and the Spurs made them pay. San Antonio played with pace, precision, and purpose - and they looked like the more connected team from tip to buzzer.
What’s striking about this Spurs team isn’t just that they beat the Thunder. It’s how they did it - and who did it.
Wembanyama, who still leads the team in scoring at 23.7 points per game, wasn’t the focal point this time. That role belonged to Johnson and Castle, who brought energy, shot-making, and a sense of urgency that OKC never matched.
Castle, in particular, continues to look like a rising star. He’s averaging 18.6 points per game and playing with a confidence that belies his age.
Meanwhile, De’Aaron Fox has been a steady second option, averaging 21.6 points per night, and Devin Vassell is chipping in nearly 16 a game. That kind of balance is what makes this version of the Spurs so dangerous - and why they’ve jumped out to a 22-7 start.
When the season tipped off, most expected San Antonio’s success to hinge entirely on Wembanyama. But what we’re seeing now is a team that’s deeper, more versatile, and more mature than advertised. They’ve got a mix of young talent and experienced scorers, and they’re starting to figure out how to win in multiple ways - whether it’s with defense, like they showed earlier this month, or by lighting up the scoreboard, like they did in this one.
The Thunder, for all their early-season dominance, suddenly have a problem they need to solve - and fast. They’ll get their shot at revenge soon enough, with a Christmas Day rematch looming at the Paycom Center. But if the Spurs bring the same energy, the same shot-making, and the same team-first approach, Oklahoma City could be staring down a third straight loss to a team that seems to have cracked their code.
Bottom line: The Spurs aren’t just relying on Wemby to carry them. They’re building something bigger - and the rest of the league better start paying attention.