The Silver and Black did it again. San Antonio beat the Thunder for the third time in as many matchups, and looked fully in control for most of the game en route to a 117-102 win. It was an impressive performance that showed off their improving defense and their multi-dimensional attack, fo r which the reigning champs don’t seem to have an answer. Anyone expecting a defensive battle was probably surprised by the absolute shootout that was the first quarter. The Thunder executed perfectly on their way to easy buckets, and the Spurs relied on the shotmaking of their guards and floor spacers to respond to an opponent who was pressuring the ball and packing the paint. The threes were falling, and everyone seemed to have the hot hand. Eventually, both teams slowed down a little, but it was a hectic start that showed this was a special game for both squads. OKC was ahead when the dust had settled, but once Victor Wembanyama took the court, the visitors came raging back. Wemby got to the line, Keldon Johnson went right into Chet Holgrem inside, Dylan Harper showed off his footwork, and the second unit did a good job of continuing the work a scorching hot De’Aaron Fox did early. After one, San Antonio was up five. After a high-scoring start, two of the best defensive teams in the league showed off that facet of their games. Fox and Harper kept cooking, but things got chippy and a little sloppy after some physical play. The chaotic stretch that ensued, with missed calls and wild drives, benefitted the Thunder, who have been making teams unravel for the past two seasons with disruptive defense, but the Spurs didn’t fold. They settled down, played ugly but effective offense when Castle handled the ball, and limited turnovers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got going after a quiet first frame, but the Silver and Black didn’t panic. It helped that some of OKC’s shooters were ice-cold, especially Alex Caruso, who couldn’t make Wembanyama pay for leaving him open to help. The intensity remained high throughout, but San Antonio stayed in control and headed into the break up nine. The expectation heading into the second half was that the defending champs would start making the Spurs play their game. A few forced turnovers and, crucially, some more threes falling to go with their offensive rebounding would have had them right back in it. But as has been the case when these two teams face each other, the Thunder didn’t look like themselves. Stephon Castle was patient in the pick and roll and got some early buckets to quiet the crowd, and a few outside shots went in for the Spurs. Through it all, OKC looked visibly frustrated and started fouling. There was a lull in the Silver and Black’s offense when they tried to run it through Wembanyama instead of the guards, but even while looking stagnant in the process, the results were often open shots. The defense remained fierce, allowing just 19 points. The roaring run that would make the game close never came, as the lead grew to 16 heading into the fourth. Against most teams, that would have been it. The Thunder are not most teams, however. They tightened up on defense, pressuring ball handlers and upping their physicality, daring the officials to blow their whistles. At times, it worked well for them as first Castle and then Fox made mistakes or looked rattled, fueling the home team’s transition attack. The outside shots started to fall more often as well. It just wasn’t enough for OKC to mount a comeback, because the Spurs always had an answer. Sometimes it was a Harper drive. Others, a timely timeout by Mitch Johnson or a Wembanyama three. In the end, the team with the best record in the league, which many saw as a threat to break the record for most wins in NBA history, looked helpless. San Antonio cruised to a comfortable victory after 48 minutes in which they simply played better basketball. Game notes It’s undeniable that Victor Wembanyama doesn’t like the Thunder, and they, in turn, don’t like him. The Alien finished with a double-double off the bench in an essential 25 minutes of play, as Luke Kornet struggled. He also celebrated missed free throws, was kneed in the legs twice, and had words with Kenrich Williams. It’s not just a Chet vs. Wemby thing. It’s a Wemby vs. OKC thing. The guard play from the three-headed monster of Fox, Castle, and Harper was sublime. They only coughed the ball up a combined six times, with Castle accounting for four of those. The Thunder are used to causing turnovers and running, and they couldn’t do it because the point guards not only took good care of the ball but also created good looks for themselves in the half-court, combining for 60 points on 38 shots. Fox led the way, but the two young guys were up for the challenge on both ends. Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie couldn’t buy a bucket, but it didn’t matter, for several reasons. First, the Thunder shot terribly from beyond the arc. Second, others stepped up and hit some outside looks. Third, both wings helped in other areas. Not a good game from them, but the team outscored its opponent with them on the floor. Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson aren’t afraid of Chet Holgrem. They are at a considerable size disadvantage, but defend him with physicality and attack him off the dribble with no hesitation. It doesn’t always go well, but it keeps the offense from stalling like it does when opponents look terrified of challenging Wemby. The guards and Wembanyama will get most of the attention, but the forwards deserve plenty of credit for the win. Play of the game There are no daggers in the third quarter, but this Harper dunk off a beautiful Wemby dish, coming after a stretch in which both teams struggled to score, felt like it meant more than just two points. THAT DYLAN DUNK 🤯🌟 Vote #nbaallstar📺 ABC/ESPN pic.twitter.com/5Z7InDdtmr— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) December 25, 2025 Next game: vs. Utah Jazz on Saturday The Spurs will return to San Antonio to start a three-game homestand. Their first opponent will be the reeling Jazz. It should be a win, as long as the Silver and Black take their opponent seriously. ...read more read less