The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-109 in the NBA Cup semifinals, snapping Oklahoma City's 16-game winning streak. Victor Wembanyama returned from a calf injury to score 22 points and grab nine rebounds in 21 minutes. The win advances San Antonio to the final against the New York Knicks.
Game Overview
The San Antonio Spurs pulled off a narrow 111-109 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup semifinals at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Entering the game with a 24-1 record, the Thunder led by 11 points after the first quarter (31-20) but saw their momentum shift once Wembanyama checked in at the start of the second quarter. The Spurs outscored Oklahoma City by 21 points during his 21 minutes on the floor, finishing with a plus-21 plus-minus.
Key Performances
Wembanyama, returning from a 12-game absence due to a strained left calf, tallied 22 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 1-of-1 from three, nine rebounds, two blocks, two assists, and one steal. He sealed the win with a pivotal free throw with 6.1 seconds left, giving San Antonio a three-point lead. Teammates Devin Vassell (23 points), De’Aaron Fox (22 points), and Stephon Castle (22 points) provided balanced scoring, marking the first game this season with Wembanyama sharing the floor with Fox, Castle, and Dylan Harper.
For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led with 29 points but struggled from three (1-of-7). Jalen Williams added 17 points on 5-of-17 shooting, while Lu Dort went 1-of-7. Oklahoma City shot 41.3% from the field and 9-of-37 from beyond the arc, committing 15 turnovers that led to 26 points for the Spurs.
Tense Finish
The game's final moments featured multiple intentional fouls and free throws. Wembanyama's go-ahead fallaway shot over Alex Caruso came with 2:32 left, putting San Antonio up 101-100. The Spurs outscored the Thunder 9-6 from the line in the closing minutes, holding on despite late chances for Oklahoma City.
Rivalry Implications
The loss dropped the Thunder to 24-2 and eliminated them from the NBA Cup. Both teams see potential for a budding rivalry, with rematches scheduled for December 23 in San Antonio and December 25 in Oklahoma City. 'There’s a good chance,' Gilgeous-Alexander said of the matchup becoming a key NBA rivalry. Wembanyama added, 'This OKC team, they’re not just first in the league, they’re way ahead of everybody.'
Shai reflected, 'We can’t be spoiled… if you show up on a night and don’t do the necessary thing to win, you probably won’t win.' Jalen Williams called it frustrating but a chance to improve against a physical Spurs team.
