Deadspin | Spurs assert themselves, take down Thunder again in Christmas spotlight

De’Aaron Fox scored 29 factors to steer the San Antonio Spurs to a 117-102 street win over the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Thursday.

The Spurs have gained eight consecutive video games, extending their longest successful streak since 2018-19.

The Thunder have dropped back-to-back video games for the primary time this season and have misplaced 4 of their final six since beginning the season 24-1.

Three of Oklahoma Metropolis’s 5 losses this season, together with every of the final two, have come to San Antonio. The loss was additionally the Thunder’s first house loss after beginning 14-0 in Oklahoma Metropolis.

The win was the Spurs’ first on Christmas since 2016.

Victor Wembanyama, who got here off the bench for the sixth consecutive recreation since lacking practically a month resulting from a calf harm, completed with 19 factors and 11 rebounds in practically 26 minutes. Stephon Fortress additionally had 19 factors and Harrison Barnes added 15 factors within the victory.

San Antonio shot 53.6% from the sphere, their second consecutive recreation above 50%. Previous to Tuesday’s 130-110 Spurs win, no crew had shot higher than 48.8% in opposition to the Thunder this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma Metropolis with 22 factors however was simply 7 for 19 from the sphere, together with 1 of 6 from past the arc. Isaiah Hartenstein paired 13 factors with 12 rebounds and no different participant scored greater than 12 for the Thunder, who had been simply 38.9% from the sphere and 25% on 3-pointers.

The Spurs led by 17 within the third quarter and by 16 to start out the fourth earlier than Oklahoma Metropolis reduce the deficit to single digits with a 9-2 run to start out the fourth.

However quickly after, Wembanyama drained a 3-pointer to increase the lead again to 14 and the Thunder by no means had been inside placing distance once more.

San Antonio grabbed the lead for good late within the first quarter, ending with a 17-4 run over the ultimate 4 minutes. The Thunder had been 2 for 9 to shut the quarter because the Spurs exploded for 41 first-quarter factors.

Oklahoma Metropolis lastly discovered some defensive footing after halftime, holding the Spurs to 26 factors within the third quarter.

However San Antonio’s protection continued to make it tough to search out success, because the Thunder shot simply 26.9% from the sphere, going 1 of 12 from past the arc, for 19 factors within the interval.

–Subject Stage Media