The Oklahoma City Thunder found themselves on the wrong end of a tight one, falling 111-109 to Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in a game that carried the weight of NBA Cup elimination. And while the loss stings - especially for a team with championship aspirations - the Thunder aren’t shying away from the lessons it offers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who poured in 29 points to lead OKC, was quick to put the defeat into perspective. For him, this kind of setback isn’t just a bruise - it’s a blueprint.
“Personally, I think it's exciting,” Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame. “It's easier to learn when you don't feel the way you want to feel. It stings a little bit more.”
That sting is exactly what the Thunder are leaning into. Shai knows growth doesn’t come easy, and in his eyes, this loss is less of a failure and more of a midseason checkpoint - a pop quiz with a retake on the horizon.
“We’ll also see these guys [twice in the next five] games,” he added. “So, it will be a good challenge.
Kind of like an automatic test, almost like in school. You fail the test, you get to retest a couple days later.”
The Thunder will get two more cracks at the Spurs before Christmas Day, including a road matchup on December 23. It's an unusual scheduling quirk that creates a built-in opportunity to respond - and respond quickly.
But Shai didn’t stop there. He also offered a reminder that no team, not even one with a top-tier record and a rising star duo, is immune to nights like this.
“We can't be spoiled,” he said. “We can't think we're above anything.
Us, along with every team in the league, if you show up on a night and don't do the necessary thing to win, you probably won't win - no matter how talented or no matter what your record looks like. That was the case for us tonight.”
Chet Holmgren, who continues to mature with every game, echoed that sentiment. He called the loss a “teachable moment” and said he’s looking forward to diving into the film to dissect what went wrong. For a young core like the Thunder’s, these are the kinds of experiences that can shape a team’s identity heading into the grind of the season.
The Spurs, meanwhile, earned every bit of the win. Victor Wembanyama was a force on both ends - a rim protector early, a shot-maker late, and a constant presence throughout. He was one of four Spurs starters to score 22 or more points, a testament to just how balanced and aggressive San Antonio was after the opening quarter.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault gave credit where it was due, acknowledging the Spurs’ all-around effort and Wembanyama’s game-changing versatility.
“Huge, obviously. He has great two-way impact,” Daigneault said.
“Obviously, a rim deterrent. He's a problem on the glass and certainly was early.
Then, he caught his rhythm offensively, made some really tough shots down the stretch. So, credit to him and them.”
But Daigneault also made it clear that this wasn’t a one-man show. “For stretches of the game, though, they played really well without him, too.
I didn’t think it was isolated to them. That was a great team win for them - they won as a team.
A lot of their guys played well, but he certainly had an impact on the game.”
For the Thunder, the loss marks just their second of the season - a reminder that even elite teams have off nights. But what separates contenders from pretenders isn’t perfection - it’s how they respond. And with two more meetings against Wembanyama and the Spurs on deck, the Thunder won’t have to wait long for their shot at redemption.
Next up: a Thursday night matchup at home against the Clippers. Another test, another opportunity. And if you listen to Shai, Chet, and Coach Daigneault, it’s clear this team is more focused on the long game - and the growth that comes with it - than any single result.