Oklahoma City Thunder
116FINAL104
San Antonio Spurs
This Thunder vs Spurs recap October 21 covers Oklahoma City’s 116-104 win in San Antonio, the first meeting between the two teams since the Spurs beat them in Game 7 of last season’s Western Conference Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points, and the Thunder held Victor Wembanyama to 1-of-13 shooting.
The game tipped off at 9:30 AM on Wednesday, October 21, in Philippine time, closing out NBA opening night. Oklahoma City led for all but the first five minutes.
How the Thunder won the game
Oklahoma City took control in the first half. The Thunder made 10 of 14 three-pointers before the break, built a lead of as many as 26 points, and went into halftime up 65-44 after winning the second quarter 31-16. San Antonio shot just 29.2% from the field in the half.
The Spurs answered after halftime. They opened the third quarter on a 23-9 run and won the period 36-28, cutting the deficit to 93-80 going into the fourth. Each time San Antonio got close, Gilgeous-Alexander and Jared McCain responded, combining for 25 points in the second half.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 34 | 31 | 28 | 23 | 116 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 28 | 16 | 36 | 24 | 104 |
A heated rivalry
The rematch had an edge from the start. In the second quarter, De’Aaron Fox threw Chet Holmgren to the floor while fighting for position, which led to a scrum. Wembanyama, Jaylin Williams, Jalen Williams, and Kenrich Williams each received a technical foul.
How did the Thunder slow Wembanyama?
Wembanyama missed his first 12 shots, including an alley-oop blocked by 7-foot-3 Thunder rookie Aday Mara. His only field goal came on an alley-oop from Fox at the third-quarter buzzer, and all of his first-half points came at the free-throw line.
He still made an impact, finishing with 12 points, 13 rebounds, and six blocks while going 10-of-12 at the line. It was his fewest made field goals in a game since he went 2-of-5 against Minnesota on May 10.
Thunder vs Spurs: top performers
McCain’s six threes off the bench matched his career high, and Holmgren protected the rim on the other end. For San Antonio, the guards carried the scoring while Wembanyama struggled from the field.
| Player | Team | PTS | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Thunder | 32 | 13-of-27 FG, 5 REB, 4 AST |
| Jared McCain | Thunder | 20 | 6-of-8 3PT in 22 MIN |
| Chet Holmgren | Thunder | 14 | 7 REB, 4 BLK |
| Stephon Castle | Spurs | 24 | 7 REB, 5 3PT |
| Dylan Harper | Spurs | 18 | 7 REB, 5 AST, 7-of-17 FG |
| Victor Wembanyama | Spurs | 12 | 13 REB, 6 BLK |
As a team, Oklahoma City shot 45.3% from the field and 14-of-31 from three, while San Antonio made just 10 of its 37 three-point attempts.
What the result means
The win gave Oklahoma City some revenge for last season’s Game 7 loss, which the Spurs won 111-103 in Oklahoma City on May 30. As our Thunder vs Spurs preview noted, the Spurs’ three-guard lineup and Wembanyama’s rim protection were the main questions, and the Thunder answered both on opening night.
The good start came at a cost later in the week. Jalen Williams, who scored 12 points in this game, fractured his left fibula and dislocated his left ankle against the LA Clippers on October 25 and needs surgery, with no timeline for his return.
What’s next for the Thunder and Spurs
After their October 29 (PHT) games, both teams play next on Sunday, November 1. The Spurs host the Minnesota Timberwolves at 8:00 AM PHT, and the Thunder visit Houston later that morning.
Sunday, November 1 · 8:30 AM
Thunder at Rockets
Toyota Center
