Spurs Dominate OKC, Igniting a New Rivalry

SAN ANTONIO — The Spurs flipped the script on Oklahoma Metropolis once more Tuesday evening, using crushing physicality on protection to finest the visiting Thunder 130-110 at Frost Financial institution Heart.

It was San Antonio’s second win in 10 days over the defending NBA champions and units the stage for a Christmas Day conflict Thursday at Paycom Heart between the budding rivals.

“It appears like saying it is a rivalry can be a bizarre factor as a result of it is one thing that builds naturally,” middle Victor Wembanyama mentioned. “I did not say that it is inconceivable that it may be [a rivalry] sooner or later. I hope it is going to be quickly. However we’re undoubtedly getting nearer. They will be locked in [on Christmas] greater than any time earlier than, most likely. It is a resourceful staff, however we’ll be there too.”

San Antonio made its presence identified within the second matchup by imposing a suffocating protection that scored 20 factors off 15 Oklahoma Metropolis turnovers, whereas the supporting forged of Keldon Johnson, Stephon Fortress and Harrison Barnes blistered the Thunder by racking up 25, 24 and 20 factors, respectively.

Franchise famous person Wembanyama (12 factors), in the meantime, got here off the bench for the fifth consecutive recreation. His streak of 101 straight video games with no less than one blocked shot ended.

It was additionally an evening of firsts for the West-leading Thunder. The loss at San Antonio marked the primary time this season that Oklahoma Metropolis trailed by 20-plus factors, in response to ESPN Analysis, as Kelly Olynyk nailed the primary of two free throws with 1:23 left to play to offer the Spurs a 126-105 lead.

“We had video games this yr the place we had massive leads and we allow them to slip and we ended up in dogfights,” Johnson mentioned. “To see that little step tonight is large for us. After we get leads like that, we have to proceed to make these strides and make nice choices to maintain and lengthen the lead.”

Oklahoma Metropolis’s 20-point loss additionally represents the staff’s second-largest regular-season defeat over the previous two campaigns, behind a 27-point loss final season on April 6 to the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Whenever you’re studying about your self or your staff, to have the ability to be in conditions and alternatives in opposition to the perfect … they’re the champs, they usually have the perfect document within the league,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson mentioned. “So, to have the ability to have that chance to proceed to compete and struggle in opposition to the perfect, it is a heck of a possibility. You’d higher be able to go.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced Oklahoma Metropolis with a game-high 33 factors, however the reigning MVP was unable to get to the free throw line at his regular frequency. Gilgeous-Alexander shot a team-high 5 free throws, however the Thunder completed the sport with solely seven makes an attempt, in contrast with 24 for the Spurs.

Gilgeous-Alexander logged his fourth consecutive 30-point outing, good for the third-longest such streak of his profession.

“They actually performed the sport on their phrases on each ends of the ground,” he mentioned. “They bought no matter they wished offensively, after which, defensively, that they had us stagnant, had us enjoying excessive of them for essentially the most half. Whenever you play in opposition to a very good staff, you’ll be able to’t play like that for lengthy intervals of time as a result of it will chip away at itself. And subsequent factor you recognize, you lookup and there is a massive lead.”

San Antonio outscored OKC 60-48 within the paint and 19-5 on the break as rookie Dylan Harper logged a career-high 5 steals.

The Spurs now head into Oklahoma Metropolis on Thursday with the NBA’s longest lively profitable streak at seven video games, which registers because the membership’s longest for the reason that 2018-19 season.

Nonetheless, Wembanyama stays cautious about describing the matchup in opposition to the Thunder as a rivalry, regardless of seeing indicators that one may be brewing.

Counting the matchup Thursday, the groups will meet three extra occasions this season.

“The indicators are the world is packed, the power is completely different, the physicality from the primary to the forty eighth minutes is up there,” Wembanyama mentioned. “It is arduous to explain, however it’s like [in soccer] when PSG performs Marseille in France. This can be a actual rivalry. It is one thing that is constructed [over] years and years. It isn’t one thing you’ll be able to simply make up like this.

“It would not take away that it is a good matchup. But it surely takes lots.”