In a game that turned the tables on the reigning champions, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-102 on Thursday, December 25, 2025, handing the Thunder their first home loss of the season and marking the third consecutive defeat by the Spurs in less than two weeks.
Spurs Surge
The Spurs’ rise began with a narrow victory in an NBA Cup semifinal that many observers dismissed as a fluke. Yet the team has since won twice in Oklahoma City, a 20-point win in San Antonio on Tuesday and a 15-point win on Thursday. Those results have forced the Thunder to confront a serious threat. “Maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t,” Victor Wembanyama said when asked if the Spurs’ success has sent a message to the league. “But we’re focused on the rest of the season. It’s very long. We’re not even halfway through, so I’m not really sure it’s, I don’t know the word – I’m not really sure it’s smart to think so far into the future.”
Wembanyama Impact
The 7-foot-3 Frenchman has averaged 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in just over 23 minutes per game against the Thunder, appearing as a reserve in all three matchups while recovering from a calf injury that sidelined him for 12 games. His presence on defense has unsettled Oklahoma City’s disciplined offense. Thunder guard Jalen Williams noted, “Just having Victor out there just defensively covers up for a lot of their mistakes, which is why our offensive progression is much more important because it can really affect a game if you kind of let them do what they scheme to do.”
Thunder Response
Reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander acknowledged the need for improvement. “We have to get better as a group,” he said. “You don’t lose to a team three times in a row in a short span without them being better than you. So we have to be better. You have to look in the mirror. And that’s everybody from top to bottom if we want to reach our ultimate goal.” The Thunder, which had won 24 of its first 25 games, often blew out opponents and rested starters in the fourth quarter, now face the reality that their dominant streak is under threat.
Future Outlook
The Spurs’ success has been amplified by a coaching change. 39-year-old Mitch Johnson is in his first full season, stepping into the role after Gregg Popovich became team president. Johnson’s Spurs remind Thunder coach Williams of the 2023-24 team that earned the No. 1 seed in the West after a losing record the year before. “They want the games just as bad as we do,” Williams said. “It’s just about who can nurture that into something progressive. And we just didn’t do a good job of it, and they did.” The Spurs’ emphasis on team ball-De’Aaron Fox averaging 21.9 points and 6.3 assists, Stephon Castle 18.6 points and 7.0 assists on 51.5% shooting-has produced eight double-figure scorers.
Key Takeaways
- The Spurs have defeated the Thunder three times in under two weeks, including a 117-102 win on December 25.
- Victor Wembanyama, despite limited minutes, has been a defensive catalyst and averages 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds against Oklahoma City.
- Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stresses the need for a team-wide improvement after the losses.
The Spurs’ momentum, coupled with a fresh coaching philosophy, positions them as a formidable challenger to the Thunder’s title run. With the Thunder scheduled to host the Spurs again on January 13, the stage is set for another test of whether the defending champions can regain their footing or if San Antonio will continue to disrupt the league’s hierarchy.
