In a thrilling upset, the Oklahoma City Thunder stunned the San Antonio Spurs in a high-scoring matchup. Jalen Williams achieved a career-high 41 points, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributing 31 points to lead the Thunder to a 146-132 victory on Sunday night in San Antonio. The defeat spoiled the Spurs’ homecoming after a significant road trip.
Improving to a 49-11 record, Oklahoma City secured their third consecutive win and moved within one game of Cleveland (50-10) for the top spot in the NBA standings. On the other hand, rookie guard Stephon Castle led the way for the struggling Spurs with 32 points, but the team has now suffered five losses in the last six games.
During their extended absence from home games at the Frost Bank Center, the Spurs went through a series of changes and setbacks. They acquired De’Aaron Fox, lost their All-Star center Victor Wembanyama for the season due to a shoulder blood clot, and received the news that Gregg Popovich would not return as head coach this season. These developments seemed to have taken a toll on the team’s performance.
The game took a physical turn as tensions rose between the Thunder and the Spurs. A scuffle broke out in the third quarter, resulting in the ejection of Oklahoma City’s Kenrich Williams and Lu Dort, as well as the Spurs’ Julian Champagnie. Despite the heated exchange, no punches were thrown, but the intensity was evident as players clashed on the court.
Although San Antonio showed resilience, Oklahoma City managed to maintain control, especially with Isaiah Hartenstein’s solid performance of 10 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in 29 minutes. Castle’s standout play with 32 points added to the Spurs’ effort, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Thunder’s dominance.
A key moment in the game came as Oklahoma City initiated a 13-4 run at the start of the second half, shifting the momentum in their favor. Additionally, the Spurs, who set a franchise record with 16 3-pointers in the first half, struggled in the third quarter, missing all eight of their attempts from beyond the arc.
Looking ahead, the Thunder will face the Houston Rockets on Monday night, while the Spurs are set to host the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night. The intense matchup between these two teams showcased the competitive spirit and determination of both sides in a memorable NBA contest.
