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Thursday, January 15, 2026
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San Antonio Spurs Put Oklahoma City Thunder On Notice, Setting Stage For Christmas Day Rematch

Jake RogersJake Rogers
San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, Victor Wembanyama
Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images

The San Antonio Spurs are no longer easing into matchups with the NBA’s elite. They are meeting them head-on — physically, decisively, and without hesitation.

For the second time in 10 days, San Antonio overwhelmed the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, using sustained defensive pressure and relentless pace to secure a 130-110 victory Tuesday night at Frost Bank Center. The result not only reaffirmed the Spurs’ recent surge, but also added real weight to Thursday’s Christmas Day rematch in Oklahoma City.

While the term “rivalry” remains premature, the edge between the teams is unmistakable.

Victor Wembanyama, who again came off the bench, acknowledged the growing tension while stopping short of labeling it outright.

“It feels like saying it’s a rivalry would be a weird thing because it’s something that builds naturally,” Victor Wembanyama said. “I didn’t say that it’s impossible that it can be [a rivalry] in the future. I hope it will be soon. But we’re definitely getting closer.”

San Antonio Spurs’ Defense Sets the Tone From the Opening Tip

San Antonio imposed its will early by dictating the physicality of the game. The Spurs forced 15 Oklahoma City turnovers, converting them into 20 points, while consistently disrupting passing lanes and ball movement.

The Thunder, who entered the night with the NBA’s best record, found little rhythm. It marked the first time this season Oklahoma City trailed by 20 or more points — a margin reached late in the fourth quarter when Kelly Olynyk’s free throw pushed the Spurs’ lead to 126-105.

The Spurs also dominated the interior and transition game, outscoring Oklahoma City 60-48 in the paint and 19-5 on the fast break. Rookie Dylan Harper added to the defensive effort with a career-high five steals, repeatedly turning stops into scoring chances.

Supporting Cast Delivers as Victor Wembanyama Watches

While Wembanyama’s streak of 101 consecutive games with a blocked shot came to an end, San Antonio didn’t miss a beat offensively.

Keldon Johnson led the way with 25 points, Stephon Castle added 24, and Harrison Barnes chipped in 20, giving the Spurs consistent scoring across the lineup. Wembanyama finished with 12 points in his fifth straight game coming off the bench, allowing San Antonio to maintain balance without forcing the offense through one focal point.

Johnson emphasized the significance of sustaining leads — an area that had plagued the Spurs earlier this season.

“We had games this year where we had big leads and we let them slip and we ended up in dogfights,” Johnson said. “To see that little step tonight is huge for us.”

Oklahoma City Thunder Stalled by Physicality and Whistle Disparity

Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 33 points, extending his streak to four consecutive 30-point performances. But the Spurs limited his ability to live at the free-throw line — a hallmark of his game.

Gilgeous-Alexander attempted just five free throws, and the Thunder totaled only seven as a team, compared with 24 for San Antonio.

“They really played the game on their terms on both ends of the floor,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Defensively, they had us stagnant… When you play against a good team, you can’t play like that for long periods of time.”

The loss marked Oklahoma City’s second-largest regular-season defeat over the past two seasons, trailing only a 27-point loss to the Lakers last April.

Christmas Day Stakes Continue to Rise

San Antonio now carries the NBA’s longest active winning streak at seven games — its longest since the 2018–19 season — into Thursday’s Christmas Day showdown at Paycom Center. Including that game, the teams will meet three more times this season.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson welcomed the challenge of measuring his group against the league’s best.

“When you’re learning about yourself or your team… to be able to compete and fight against the best, it’s a heck of an opportunity,” he said. “You’d better be ready to go.”

Wembanyama, again, urged patience when discussing rivalry talk — even as the signs become harder to ignore.

“The arena is packed, the energy is different, the physicality from the first to the 48th minutes is up there,” he said. “It’s not something you can just make up like this. It takes a lot.”

On Tuesday night, the Spurs showed they’re more than willing to put in that work.

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Tags :Christmas Day NBANBANBA NewsOklahoma City ThunderSan Antonio SpursShai Gilgeous-AlexanderSpurs vs ThunderVictor WembanyamaWestern Conference

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