The San Antonio Spurs took a tough one on the chin Tuesday night. If you just glanced at the SA spurs box score, you saw a 119-98 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and probably figured it was just another day at the office for a young team. But honestly, it’s a bit more complicated than that.
The score tells you they lost by 21. It doesn't tell you that for about twenty minutes, the Spurs actually looked like they might pull off an upset against the best team in the West.
The Numbers That Matter (and the Ones That Don't)
Let's get into the weeds of the SA spurs box score from Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Stephon Castle actually led the way in scoring with 20 points. That’s a big deal for the rookie. He’s becoming a real focal point of this offense, even with the "big names" on the floor. He went 6-of-13 from the field and actually hit three shots from deep.
Then you have Victor Wembanyama.
Wemby’s line was... weird. He finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds in 28 minutes. On paper? Fine. In reality? He looked a little human. He shot 7-of-15 and missed his only three-point attempt. The Thunder threw a lot of bodies at him, and for the first time in a while, the "alien" looked like he was fighting through some sludge. Part of that might be the knee-to-knee collision he had with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He stayed in the game, but he wasn't moving with that same terrifying fluidness we usually see.
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Why the Third Quarter Ruined Everything
If you want to know why the Spurs lost, look at the third-quarter splits. It was a disaster. San Antonio got outscored 40-24 in those twelve minutes.
Basically, the defense fell apart.
Oklahoma City is a juggernaut right now—they’re 34-7 for a reason. When the Spurs started turning the ball over (Stephon Castle had 5 of the team's 12 giveaways), the Thunder turned those into easy transition buckets. You can't give a team that good a 40-point quarter and expect to survive.
Examining the SA Spurs Box Score Depth
It wasn't just the starters. The bench was a mixed bag, which is kinda the story of the season so far.
- Dylan Harper: The rookie continues to be a bright spot. He dropped 12 points in 26 minutes and looked way more composed than a kid his age should.
- Luke Kornet: Honestly, Kornet has been a godsend for the second unit. He grabbed 8 rebounds (6 of them offensive!) and chipped in 8 points.
- Harrison Barnes: This is where it gets tricky. Barnes played 24 minutes and finished with... 2 points. He was 1-for-7. For a veteran starter on a team trying to stay in the #2 seed hunt, that’s just not going to cut it.
The shooting percentages were the real killer. San Antonio shot 40% as a team. OKC? They were sitting pretty at 47.6%. You aren't winning many NBA games in 2026 when you’re shooting 7 percentage points worse than your opponent, especially when that opponent is the defending champ.
The De'Aaron Fox Factor
De'Aaron Fox finished with 14 points and 5 assists. He played 34 minutes. Usually, when Fox is on the floor, the Spurs have a certain "downhill" gravity that opens things up for everyone else. Tuesday night felt different. He was 5-of-9, which is efficient, but he only took 9 shots.
The Spurs need him to be aggressive. When he’s passive, the offense becomes a bit too "Wemby-or-bust," and the Thunder are too smart to let that beat them.
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Where the Spurs Stand Now
Even with this loss, the Spurs are still 27-13. They are sitting at 2nd in the Western Conference.
That’s wild to think about if you remember where this team was two years ago. They’ve gone from a lottery lock to a legitimate threat. But as this box score proves, there is still a massive gap between "very good" and "championship level."
The Thunder are the bar. Right now, San Antonio is still reaching for it.
What to Watch for Next
The Spurs don't have time to pout. They’ve got the Milwaukee Bucks coming into the Frost Bank Center on Thursday. The big question is going to be Wemby’s health. He rolled his ankle late in the OKC game after landing on Jaylin Williams' foot. He didn't go to the locker room, but keep a close eye on the injury report.
If Wembanyama is out or limited, the burden falls squarely on Castle and Fox.
Actionable Insights for Spurs Fans:
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- Monitor the Injury Report: Check the status of Wembanyama’s ankle and knee before the Bucks game; the Spurs have been cautious with him all season.
- Watch the Turnover Margin: The Spurs are 27-13, but their losses almost always involve 15+ turnovers. If they keep it under 10, they usually win.
- The Harrison Barnes Dilemma: Watch the starting lineup closely. If Barnes continues to struggle, Mitch Johnson might have to look at moving Julian Champagnie or even Jeremy Sochan into a more prominent scoring role.
- Buy the Castle Hype: Stephon Castle is the real deal. His aggression in the OKC game despite the loss shows he's ready for the bright lights.
The season is long, and one ugly box score in Oklahoma City doesn't define a 50-win pace. But it sure does highlight exactly where the work still needs to be done.