Back in dominance! SGA scores 34+5+5 with 4 blocks, Wembanyama only 17+7, Thunder easily beat Spurs for their fourth straight win

On January 14th Beijing time, during the NBA regular season, the Thunder played at home against the Spurs. The first half was evenly matched, but Wembanyama’s injury in the third quarter shifted momentum. The Thunder then dominated, building a lead exceeding 20 points, and the Spurs’ attempts to catch up in the last quarter were unsuccessful. The final score was Thunder 119, Spurs 98, marking the Thunder’s fourth straight win.

Statistics:

Spurs: Wembanyama 17 points 7 rebounds, Champagnie 13 points, Castle 20 points 7 rebounds 8 assists, Fox 14 points, Harper 12 points

Thunder: Alexander 34 points 5 rebounds 5 assists 4 blocks, Jalen Williams 20 points, Holmgren 8 points 10 rebounds, Mitchell 11 points, Jerlin Williams 11 points 10 rebounds, Caruso 13 points

Game Progress:

At the start of the first quarter, Castle opened with a dunk, Holmgren drew a foul and made two free throws. The score went back and forth, tied at 5, 11, and 18 points. The Spurs pushed ahead with a 6-2 run to try to create separation, but the Thunder quickly responded with a 12-2 scoring run to take the lead. The Spurs managed only 2 points in the last nearly 3 minutes of the quarter. The first quarter ended with the Thunder leading 32-26 by 6 points.

In the second quarter, the Spurs scored 4 straight points to cut the deficit to 2. Jalen Williams’ layup steadied the Thunder. Both teams battled closely, with the Thunder maintaining about a 2-point lead. Midway through the quarter, Barnes hit a floater, tying the game at 43. The score remained tight, tied at 45 and then 51. Holmgren made one of two free throws. On the Thunder’s last possession, Caruso’s buzzer-beating three-pointer missed. Halftime ended with the Thunder leading 55-52 by 3 points.

In the third quarter, the Spurs started strong, quickly tying the game at 62. Then the momentum shifted dramatically as Wembanyama left the court injured. The Thunder unleashed an 11-0 scoring run to pull away. The Spurs answered with a 7-0 run to reduce the gap, but the Thunder kept up the pressure, following with a 13-1 run to extend the lead to nearly 20 points. The Spurs tried to catch up but the Thunder always responded. The third quarter ended with the Thunder ahead 95-76 by 19 points.

In the final quarter, Joe hit a three-pointer, pushing the lead beyond 20 points. The Spurs scored consecutively to narrow the gap, but Mitchell’s two free throws stopped the momentum. Then the Spurs suddenly fell into a slump, allowing the Thunder to stretch the lead again. The Thunder entered the last three minutes with a 17-point advantage. Champagnie made a three-pointer, but Caruso answered strongly with his own three. The Spurs called a timeout and then subbed out all starters, effectively conceding. The game ended with the Thunder beating the Spurs 119-98.

Starting lineups of both teams:

Spurs: Champagnie, Barnes, Wembanyama, Castle, Fox

Thunder: Wiggins, Jalen Williams, Holmgren, Wallace, Alexander