After suffering their most lopsided loss of the season, the Oklahoma City Thunder are facing a reality check - and it came courtesy of a young, hungry San Antonio Spurs squad that didn’t just beat them, but made a statement while doing it.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault didn’t shy away from the truth after the 130-110 loss, calling it what it was: a full-on outplay from start to finish. “Credit them,” Daigneault said postgame.
“They played great on both ends of the floor from an energy standpoint and an execution standpoint. They deserve to win the game through and through.
Obviously, that was a statement with the way they played.”
And he’s right. This was a game where the defending champs got punched in the mouth - and never really punched back.
San Antonio, led by a balanced scoring attack, showed poise and purpose. Keldon Johnson paced the Spurs with 25 points, but it was far from a one-man show.
Rookie Stephon Castle poured in 24, Harrison Barnes added 20, and Devin Vassell chipped in 17. Even with Victor Wembanyama coming off the bench and finishing with a modest 12 points and five boards, San Antonio’s starters delivered in a big way.
The Thunder, meanwhile, leaned heavily on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who did what he could with 33 points and eight assists. Jalen Williams added 17 points and matched SGA’s eight assists, while Lu Dort found his shooting rhythm, knocking down five of his eight 3-point attempts en route to 15 points. But it wasn’t enough to overcome a fourth-quarter collapse that saw the Spurs outscore OKC 43-28 to close the door on any comeback hopes.
And let’s talk about that fourth quarter. The Thunder entered the final frame within striking distance but were outplayed in every facet down the stretch - effort, execution, and energy. That’s the kind of finish that sticks with a team, especially one with championship aspirations.
Still, Daigneault sees opportunity in the setback. “We can learn from it,” he said.
“Obviously, we have them in two days. We have some lessons from the game that we can carry over, and, obviously, we have to be a better team if we want to beat them on Christmas.”
That rematch on December 25 at Paycom Center suddenly feels a lot more meaningful. Not just because it’s Christmas Day basketball, but because the Thunder now have something to prove - not just to the league, but to themselves.
One bright spot for OKC? Lu Dort’s shooting stroke is showing signs of life.
After struggling through December with a 29.8% clip from deep and just 6.3 points per game, Dort has quietly turned a corner. Over the last two games, he's dropped 13 and 15 points, shooting a combined 10-for-17 from the field, including 8-of-14 from beyond the arc.
Daigneault didn’t see the need for a heart-to-heart with Dort about the slump - and his trust in the veteran guard is unwavering. “I haven’t had any conversations with Lu,” he said.
“I have such a belief in Lu - his competitiveness - I’ve seen him go through so many ups and downs over the last six years, and how he responds to that. He’s so consistent as a competitor.
He always puts the work in, and he has unbelievable self-belief. So, he maintains a high level of self-confidence through all circumstances.
I’ve got a lot of faith in betting on that.”
That kind of confidence from a coach - especially when a player is struggling - speaks volumes. And if Dort’s recent play is any indication, that belief is being rewarded.
Now, with the Spurs coming into OKC again in just two days, the Thunder have a chance to respond. It's not just about avenging a loss - it's about showing that they can take a punch, learn from it, and come back swinging. Christmas Day is shaping up to be more than just a holiday matchup - it’s a gut-check moment for a team that still believes it can defend its crown.