Tip-Off: 6 PM CT
Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City, OK)
Television: FSOK, NBA TV
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game
Just a little over two weeks ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder looked as if they had solved a number of their problems and were finally starting to click. After winning three games straight, the Thunder had a 23-point lead in the second quarter over the Spurs in San Antonio, but then a complete meltdown happened, and the Spurs managed to squeak out the win.
Fast forward to today, and these teams have had a very different past couple of weeks. Since losing to San Antonio, the Thunder has gone 2-4, while the Spurs have gone 5-1. Oklahoma City picked up a couple of big home wins over Golden State and Minnesota, but aside from that, things have been ugly. After tonight, the Thunder has several favorable games in a row, so picking up a win at home against the Spurs would give the Thunder two in a row and a full head of steam headed into the week.
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Russell Westbrook
- SG: Andre Roberson
- SF: Paul George
- PF: Carmelo Anthony
- C: Steven Adams
Spurs
- PG: Patty Mills
- SG: Danny Green
- SF: Kyle Anderson
- PF: Joffrey Lauvergne
- C: Pau Gasol
Injuries
Thunder
- None to report
Spurs
- LaMarcus Aldridge (rest) is out.
- Tony Parker (rest) is out.
- Rudy Gay (sore right heel) is out.
- Kawhi Leonard (right quadriceps tendinopathy) is out.
- Derrick White (right wrist fracture) is probable.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 14-19 against the Spurs in the regular season (9-8 at home, 5-11 away) and 10-8 against them in the playoffs (7-2 at home, 3-6 away).
- In nine seasons, the Thunder has won the season series with the Spurs once, lost it four times, and tied four times.
- The Thunder has won three of the last four regular season games in a row over the Spurs in Oklahoma City, but San Antonio has won four of the last five matchups overall.
- This is the second of four meetings this season between the Thunder and the Spurs.
Game Notes
- Oklahoma City won its Friday night matchup with Minnesota, while San Antonio is on a four-game winning streak.
- Oklahoma City is 7-3 at home, while San Antonio is 5-5 on the road.
- Oklahoma City is 4-9 against the Western Conference, while San Antonio is 8-3.
- Both the Thunder and the Spurs rank in the bottom 10 in the NBA in scoring, but they both rank in the top five for opponent scoring.
- Danny Green tallied season-highs in steals (4), three-pointers made (5), and minutes (35) against the Thunder on November 17 in San Antonio.
- LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol both made their season-highs in free throws against the Thunder on November 17 in San Antonio with 10 and 6 respectively.
- Spurs forward Joffrey Lauvergne played 50 games with the Thunder last season.
- Thunder guard Alex Abrines and Spurs center Pau Gasol are teammates on Spain’s national basketball team.
- Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti was a member of the Spurs front office from 2000–07, where he reached the position of assistant general manager.
Article written by Zack Low. Follow @TheThunderGuys on Twitter, Instagram, and give us a like on Facebook.