Honestly, if you’ve been watching the Western Conference lately, you know things were getting weird for Oklahoma City. People were starting to whisper. After a 24-1 start to the season that looked like a video game on rookie mode, the defending champs hit a wall. Specifically, a silver and black wall.
They lost three straight to the Spurs in late December. Three. It was becoming a thing. But the latest score of the oklahoma city thunder game—a 119-98 demolition of San Antonio at the Paycom Center—finally put those ghosts to bed. It wasn't just a win; it was a "get back in your place" kind of statement.
The SGA Streak and the 119-98 Reality
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is just unfair at this point. He dropped 34 points on 11-of-23 shooting, but the stat that actually makes your brain hurt is the consistency. He’s now hit at least 20 points in 111 consecutive games. That is the second-longest streak in the history of the NBA. Let that sink in for a second.
The game started tight, like most Thunder-Spurs matchups do now. OKC led 32-26 after one, and it was a slim 55-52 lead at the half. You could feel the tension in the arena. Fans were thinking, “Not again. Not another fourth-quarter collapse against Wemby.”
Then the third quarter happened.
OKC came out and basically decided the game was over. They outscored San Antonio 40-24 in that frame. Jalen Williams was everywhere, finishing with 20 points, and the ball movement looked like the 2014 Spurs (ironically). By the time the fourth quarter started, the lead was 19, and Victor Wembanyama was looking visibly frustrated on the bench.
Breaking Down the Box Score
If you look at the raw numbers, the shooting percentages tell the real story.
- OKC Field Goals: 48.9%
- Spurs Field Goals: 40%
- SGA's Line: 34 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists
- Wemby's Line: 17 points, 7 rebounds (held well below his season averages)
Chet Holmgren only had 8 points, which usually means the Thunder are in trouble. But he had 10 boards and 3 blocks, and his defensive positioning forced the Spurs into a lot of "hope and pray" floaters that just weren't falling.
Why This Win Matters More Than Most
You've gotta remember that the Thunder were playing shorthanded. No Isaiah Hartenstein (soleus strain). No Lu Dort (foot soreness). These are two of your most physical, "identity" players.
Usually, when you lose your best rebounder and your best perimeter defender, a team like San Antonio—led by the Stephon Castle/Wemby duo—is going to feast. Castle actually played great, putting up 20 points and looking every bit like the future star people expect. But Aaron Wiggins stepped into the starting lineup and did "Wiggins things," which basically means he was in the right place at the right time for 26 minutes straight.
The Road Ahead: Can They Sustain This?
The Thunder are sitting at 34-7. That’s the best record in the league at the midway point. They are on pace to match last year’s 68-14 mark, which is just absurd when you consider how much better the West has gotten.
But look, there are still cracks. The rebounding without Hartenstein is a problem. The Spurs still grabbed 12 offensive boards. If OKC runs into a team with a massive frontline—think Minnesota or a healthy Denver—they might struggle to close out possessions.
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What You Should Do Next
If you’re tracking the score of the oklahoma city thunder game for betting or just pure fandom, keep an eye on the injury report for the upcoming Rockets game.
- Check Lu Dort’s Status: The defense is night and day when he’s on the floor versus the bench.
- Monitor the Hartenstein Timeline: He hasn’t played since December 28. Until he's back, the Thunder are vulnerable to "bully ball."
- Watch the Standings: The Spurs have actually lost 6 of their last 10. They are falling back into the pack, while OKC is separating themselves again.
The next game is tonight, January 15, in Houston. The Rockets are riding a seven-game home win streak and have Kevin Durant playing some of the best basketball of his late career. It’s a quick turnaround, and after the emotional high of finally beating the Spurs, this has "trap game" written all over it.
Keep an eye on the 7:30 p.m. EST tip-off. If the Thunder can carry that third-quarter defensive intensity into Houston, they’ll firmly cement themselves as the title favorites heading into February.