The San Antonio Spurs were unable to recover from a disastrous third quarter that ultimately sealed their fate against Oklahoma City Spurs vs thunder.
After being outscored by 16 points in the third period, the Spurs attempted a late push, trimming the deficit to 12 midway through the fourth quarter. However, the comeback effort fell short as the Thunder secured a 119–98 victory on Tuesday, Jan. 13. The win marked Oklahoma City’s first success in four meetings with San Antonio this season Spurs vs thunder.
Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again led the way for the Thunder, pouring in 34 points on 11-of-23 shooting while adding five rebounds and five assists. The performance was his 28th 30-point outing of the season and extended his streak of 20-point games to 111, leaving him just 15 shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s historic record of 126.
Defense proved to be the difference for Oklahoma City, particularly after halftime. The Thunder recorded a season-high 11 blocks and forced the Spurs into 12 turnovers. They also dominated inside, outscoring San Antonio 56–40 in the paint after struggling in that area in recent Spurs vs thunder games.
Game flow and highlights Spurs vs thunder: Score and game ighlights
Victor Wembanyama finished with 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting, while Stephon Castle paced San Antonio with 20 points. For Oklahoma City, Jalen Williams contributed 20 points, and Alex Caruso added 13 off the bench.
End of Q3: Thunder 95, Spurs 76
Momentum swung decisively in the third quarter as both teams traded runs. Oklahoma City opened the period with an 11–0 burst before San Antonio responded with a 7–0 run, largely occurring while Wembanyama sat on the bench after colliding knees with Gilgeous-Alexander Spurs vs thunder.
The Thunder quickly regained control with a dominant 14–1 stretch, building a commanding lead heading into the final quarter. Oklahoma City won the period 40–24, fueled by strong defense that led to transition opportunities and kept the Spurs off balance.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his Spurs vs thunder points in the third, reaching 30 by the end of the quarter. The Thunder bench also made a significant impact, outscoring San Antonio’s reserves 28–19 at that point.
Halftime: Thunder 55, Spurs 52
The opening half featured a tightly contested battle with 12 ties and seven lead changes. While both offenses showed flashes, consistency was lacking at times.
After dropping the first three matchups against San Antonio, Oklahoma City emphasized defense, deploying a 2–3 zone that disrupted the Spurs’ rhythm. Neither team shot well from beyond the arc, combining to go just 9-of-34 (26.5%) from three-point range. Julian Champagnie was a bright spot, knocking down three of his seven attempts from deep.
Wembanyama and Castle led the Spurs with 10 points apiece, while Gilgeous-Alexander topped all scorers with 15.
End of Q1: Thunder 32, Spurs 26
The opening quarter showcased the intensity of this growing rivalry. Early highlights included two quick dunks from Wembanyama, setting the tone for a physical and energetic matchup.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 13 points in the first on efficient shooting, while De’Aaron Fox struggled to find his rhythm. San Antonio benefited from offensive rebounding and bench production, but Oklahoma City closed the quarter on a 12–2 run to take the lead.
Rookie Dylan Harper led the Spurs’ bench with seven points.
Opening moments
San Antonio came out aggressively, opening the game with back-to-back dunks from Castle and Wembanyama, the latter coming over Chet Holmgren. The Spurs continued to apply pressure early, including an alley-oop connection between Castle and Wembanyama. Despite the fast start, the Thunder responded with steady scoring and trailed by just two points at the first media timeout.
Additional game information
Starting lineups
San Antonio Spurs:
De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Julian Champagnie, Harrison Barnes, Victor Wembanyama Oklahoma City Thunder: “The Oklahoma City Thunder roster includes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.” Spurs vs thunder
Game details
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 13
Time: 8 p. m. ET (7 p.m. CT)
Location: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City
TV: NBC
Streaming: NBC Sports App, Peacock
Injuries
San Antonio: Devin Vassell (left adductor strain) remains out
Oklahoma City: Luguentz Dort (left foot soreness) and Isaiah Hartenstein (right calf strain) did not play