The Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs are crossing paths once again, and this time, it’s in the Western Conference Finals. The seemingly forced rivalry between the Thunder and the Spurs is becoming more and more real as time goes on, and this series should take it to another level.
OKC is still the reigning champ with all the momentum, but some want to crown the San Antonio Spurs as the next generation. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA’s back-to-back MVP, but Spurs fans will try to tell you that Victor Wembanyama was cheated. They also say that OKC is a bunch of free-throw merchants who play unethical basketball, while the numbers don’t say that, and if you actually watch the games, you’ll see for yourself.
But let’s not get distracted from the task at hand. Arguing style of play and regular-season awards is fun banter for pretty much any time except for during the playoffs. This edition of the Western Conference Finals has been anxiously anticipated for most of this season, and even though the Spurs beat the Thunder 4-1 in the regular season, the postseason is a completely new ball game. OKC is actually healthy, and as rotations tend to tighten up in the Playoffs, the Thunder can go deeper than basically any team in the league.
Whether this matchup is viewed as SGA vs. Wemby or perhaps even Chet vs. Wemby, the real focus should be on how these teams play under duress. Both the Thunder and the Spurs were extremely successful in clutch games, finishing 2nd and 3rd in the NBA in win percentage in such games. In the postseason, however, OKC has had just one clutch game, the series-clinching win against the Los Angeles Lakers in the last round. On the other hand, San Antonio is just 1-3 in 4 clutch games through two rounds of the postseason.
Both of these teams have formidable offenses. Both of these play grueling, physical defense. Both of these teams have at least one NBA legend in the making, if not more. However, one of these teams has championship DNA, playoff experience, and a battle-tested background. While OKC hasn’t been truly tested this postseason, the team hasn’t forgotten some of the difficult circumstances it had to overcome last year on the way to winning the 2025 NBA Finals. With that in mind, the Thunder needs to rely on the poise and consistency it has shown over the last few seasons. If they can do that tonight, especially after a week of rest, then they should jump out to a 1-0 lead over the Spurs.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 7:30 PM CT
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: NBA on NBC and Peacock
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live tweets and discussion during the game
Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, San Antonio Spurs Official Game Notes
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Luguentz Dort
- SF: Jalen Williams
- PF: Chet Holmgren
- C: Isaiah Hartenstein
Spurs
- PG: De’Aaron Fox
- SG: Stephon Castle
- SF: Devin Vassell
- PF: Justin Champagnie
- C: Victor Wembanyama
Injury Report
Thunder
- Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery) is OUT.
Spurs
- De’Aaron Fox (right ankle soreness) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Luke Kornet (left foot soreness) is QUESTIONABLE.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 32-34 against the Spurs in the regular season (22-11 at home, 10-22 away, 0-1 at neutral location) and 10-8 against them in the playoffs (7-2 at home, 3-6 away).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City, the Thunder have won the season series with the Spurs 5 times, lost 7 times, and tied 5 times.
- The Thunder went 1-4 against the Spurs in the regular season (1-1 at home, 0-2 on the road, and 0-1 at a neutral location).