Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Nov 14, 2023 10:32 pm

Thunder prevail in battle of young stars, crush Spurs

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points to lead the host Oklahoma City Thunder to a 123-87 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.

Gilgeous-Alexander added six rebounds, five assists and a career-high seven steals.

Oklahoma City forced 25 San Antonio turnovers, outscoring the Spurs 23-13 off giveaways in the process.

The win was the Thunder’s second straight and fourth in five games. It was also Oklahoma City’s first victory of the the NBA’s in-season tournament, keeping the Thunder’s hopes of moving to the knockout stage alive.

Oklahoma City is now 1-2 in in-season tournament play.

The Spurs have lost six consecutive games, including two in the tournament, where San Antonio is 0-2.

Tuesday’s game was the first regular-season showdown between two of the league’s most prominent rookies — San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, and Chet Holmgren, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft who missed all of last season with a foot injury.

Neither was as sharp as they’ve been for much of the season.

Holmgren scored nine points on 3-of-10 shooting with seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.

Wembanyama had a season-low eight points on 4-of-15 shooting, but he added 14 rebounds and two blocks.

As time wound down in the first half, Gilgeous-Alexander picked off a Zach Collins pass and fed it to Josh Giddey.

As Giddey drove to the basket, he faked a pass to the wing before flipping it over his shoulder to Holmgren for a dunk to send the Thunder into the locker room on a 13-0 run and with a 58-48 lead.

That defensive intensity from the Thunder continued in the third quarter, as Oklahoma City outscored San Antonio 33-18 in the period to all but put the game away.

Gilgeous-Alexander (13 points) and Giddey (10) combined for 23 third-quarter points.

Giddey finished with 18 points and seven assists for the game.

Julian Champagnie and Collins scored 13 points apiece to lead the Spurs.

San Antonio was without backup point guard Tre Jones for the second consecutive game due to right hamstring tightness. Keldon Johnson, who is dealing with right knee soreness, was also out for the Spurs.

–Field Level Media

You may also like

Timberwolves, Warriors
May 8, 2025 11:15 pm

Wolves cruise to Game 2 win over Stephen Curry-less Warriors

Julius Randle scored 24 points and dished 11 assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away for a 117-93 win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of their Western…

Anthony Edwards
May 8, 2025 9:49 pm

Wolves’ Anthony Edwards exits due to ankle injury

Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards left the Timberwolves’ Thursday playoff game against the Golden State Warriors in Minneapolis after sustaining a sprained left ankle on a drive to the rim. Edwards…

Marc Lasry
May 8, 2025 9:35 pm

Ex-Bucks owner Marc Lasry subject of sexual misconduct suit

Former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry was hit by a countersuit seeking $100 million on Thursday from an ex-employee who maintains the billionaire subjected her to years of sexual harassment…

More Basketball News

Timberwolves, Warriors
May 8, 2025 11:15 pm

Wolves cruise to Game 2 win over Stephen Curry-less Warriors

Julius Randle scored 24 points and dished 11 assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away for a 117-93 win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of their Western…

Anthony Edwards
May 8, 2025 9:49 pm

Wolves’ Anthony Edwards exits due to ankle injury

Marc Lasry
May 8, 2025 9:35 pm

Ex-Bucks owner Marc Lasry subject of sexual misconduct suit

jokic thunder
May 8, 2025 9:20 pm

Nuggets leaning on experience, Thunder on road prowess in Game 3

a'ja wilson
May 8, 2025 8:11 pm

A’ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces’ early exit in ’24

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds