Thunder Falls Short Against Spurs in Close Contest
OKLAHOMA CITY—In a tightly fought battle, the Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a narrow 110-104 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs, marking their second consecutive loss in a close matchup. Despite a late-game push, the Thunder struggled to find the crucial plays down the stretch to clinch a victory.
Leading the Thunder’s charge were guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored an impressive 32 points on 11-for-20 shooting, and Jalen Williams, contributing 27 points along with nine rebounds and six assists. Aaron Wiggins, stepping into the starting lineup, added 11 points, showcasing his versatility regardless of role.
The game began with a back-and-forth scoreline, as both teams exchanged leads. Wiggins kickstarted OKC’s scoring, but the Spurs’ Julian Champagnie and Chris Paul quickly put their team ahead. By the end of the first quarter, the Thunder clung to a slim 35-32 lead.
In a game marked by the absence of two starting big men, the Thunder defied expectations by narrowly winning the rebounding battle 47 to 45. They held the lead for a significant portion of the second quarter, reaching a game-high 10-point advantage at 48-38, but a late Spurs surge led to a 60-57 halftime lead for San Antonio.
The Spurs extended their lead to 14 points at one point during the third quarter, aided by their strong three-point shooting, going 19-for-46 compared to OKC’s 16-for-53. Even as the Thunder rallied, closing the gap in the fourth, their efforts fell short as the Spurs maintained control.
The Thunder aim to break their two-game skid against the Portland Trail Blazers at 7:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at home. Fans are encouraged to join the conversation by following Thunder on SI on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates.
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