The San Antonio Spurs returned home for a quick one-game stop, but they made it count-and then some. Facing an Oklahoma City Thunder team with revenge on its mind after the Spurs ended their NBA Cup dreams in Las Vegas, San Antonio didn’t just hold its own.
They delivered a statement win, pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 130-110 victory over the defending champs. That’s now seven straight wins for the Spurs-their longest streak since 2019-and it solidifies their spot as the West’s No. 2 seed heading into the holidays.
A Game of Runs, Until the Spurs Took Control
Early on, it looked like the Thunder might pick up where they left off before the NBA Cup hiccup. With Victor Wembanyama not in the starting lineup, OKC jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead.
But this time, the Spurs didn’t wait around for Wemby to check in and save the day. Instead, they attacked the paint, flipped the momentum with an 11-2 run, and started to set the tone physically.
Harrison Barnes, who’s been searching for rhythm lately, chipped in with a strong start-attacking Chet Holmgren in the post and stepping out to knock down a three to give the Spurs a 16-13 edge. By the end of the first quarter, San Antonio had racked up 22 points in the paint and led 29-27 in what was shaping up to be a tightly contested battle.
The second quarter brought more of the same: back-and-forth basketball with neither team able to create real separation. Keldon Johnson came in hot off the bench, scoring 9 of the Spurs’ next 11 points to push the lead to 41-33. But the Thunder answered with a 12-2 run of their own, thanks in large part to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was surgical from the midrange and had 16 points by halftime.
While the Spurs were shooting well overall, they couldn’t quite capitalize from deep (5-of-17 from three) or the free-throw line (5-of-10), which helped OKC take a slim 60-58 lead into the break.
Spurs Find Their Gear in the Fourth
The third quarter was more of the same seesaw action. Devin Vassell and Barnes each hit a three to spark an 8-0 Spurs run, but OKC came right back with an 8-0 run of its own.
Neither team could get much breathing room until Keldon Johnson took over again late in the quarter. His energy off the bench gave San Antonio the jolt it needed, as he poured in 8 points during a 13-6 run that gave the Spurs their largest lead of the night at that point.
A Lu Dort buzzer-beater three trimmed it to 87-82 heading into the fourth.
That’s when the Spurs slammed the door.
SGA opened the final frame with a couple of buckets, but Stephon Castle matched him shot for shot. Then came the turning point: a Wembanyama three that pushed the lead to double digits at 98-86.
From there, it was all Spurs. They extended the lead to 105-90 with six minutes to play, and every time the Thunder tried to mount a push, San Antonio had an answer.
Vassell and Johnson each hit timely threes that sent OKC to the bench early. The Spurs outscored the Thunder 43-28 in the fourth quarter, closing out a commanding win that not only showcased their depth but also their ability to finish strong against elite competition.
Keldon Johnson: The Spark Plug
Let’s talk about Keldon Johnson. He’s been flying under the radar in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation, but performances like this one should start changing that.
Johnson finished with 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-9 from deep. But it wasn’t just the numbers-it was the when and how he scored.
He came in and shifted momentum multiple times, especially late in the third when the game was still hanging in the balance.
Castle also had a breakout night, dropping 24 points and going 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Barnes added 20, a welcome sight after a rough stretch, and Vassell chipped in 17 with a few big-time threes to keep the Thunder at bay. Wembanyama added 12 points and 5 boards in a more selective role, picking his spots and letting the game come to him.
Wemby’s Block Streak Ends, But the Win Streak Continues
One notable stat that came to an end: Wemby’s incredible block streak, which had reached 101 games. He had a few near-misses as a secondary defender, but for the most part, OKC stayed away from challenging him at the rim.
He did record one block, but it was wiped out due to a foul call on SGA before the shot. Still, if you asked him, he’d probably trade the streak for the win-and the way this team is rolling, it’s a fair trade.
A Mixed Night for Lu Dort
Lu Dort had a solid offensive outing, scoring 15 points on 5-of-8 from deep. But he also had two three-pointers wiped out by offensive fouls-both self-inflicted errors that killed OKC momentum.
The first came in the first half when he slid into Wemby after a shot, drawing contact that was initially called a foul on the Spurs but overturned on review. The second came during the Thunder’s fourth-quarter push, when Dort stuck his leg out and tripped Barnes on a closeout, nullifying another made three.
Those were costly mistakes in a game where OKC needed every bit of rhythm it could find.
Play of the Game
Late in the fourth, Wemby delivered a slick pass to a cutting Keldon Johnson under the basket-a play that felt like the final dagger. The ball movement, the awareness, the celebration-it all underscored just how in-sync this team is right now.
What’s Next
The Spurs and Thunder will run it back on Christmas Day in Oklahoma City, a matchup that was already on the schedule before their surprise NBA Cup clash in Vegas. The Thunder will no doubt be looking for payback, but the Spurs are playing with confidence, chemistry, and a growing belief that they can hang with anyone. Don’t count them out-this team is starting to believe in itself, and it’s showing up in the win column.