The San Antonio Spurs are putting the world on notice that they are for real. For the second time this season, the Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder. This time, playing in front of their home fans, San Antonio handed OKC a 130-110 loss.
This was a back and forth affair for much of the ballgame until the Spurs snatched control of the proceedings in the fourth quarter. The good guys outscored the defending champs 43-28 in the final stanza to send an emphatic statement to the Thunder and the rest of the league.
Stats: Spurs vs. Thunder
spurs thunder grades
Spurs vs. Thunder – Final Grades
Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama painted another masterpiece from off the bench. In only 23 minutes, he was once again very impactful. While his minutes are limited right now, in these short bursts he’s the focal point of each possession up and down the court. While his block shot streak ended, it wasn’t due to poor defense. Rather, Wembanyama was so dominant on the inside that the Thunder didn’t even test him. I was also impressed with his rotations out to the perimeter and his one-on-one defense in the deep water. Offensively, Wembanyama made a lot of smart decisions and played with enough oomph to force OKC’s defense to crumble. It’s a strange bench era for the superstar big man but he’s still very much the center of San Antonio’s universe.
Grade: A-
De’Aaron Fox
At a quick glance, one might assume that Fox struggled. However, he actually did quite well. Although he missed all four of his three-point attempts (and, weirdly enough, all four of his free throws), the rest of his offensive play was pristine. He was 3-for-5 from two-point range and he penetrated whenever he wanted. But instead of pressing the issue, Fox was very unselfish. He gave up the ball early and often to put his teammates in the best positions possible. The result was a game in which he had nine assists, no turnovers and a team-high +18. Fox is shedding narratives surrounding his game. He used to be known as a bit of a stat-padder. Now he’s just playing winning basketball — even if that’s giving the ball up as part of his goal to play smart, team-oriented basketball. Against the Thunder, I was also impressed with his defensive play and his overall basketball IQ.
Grade: B+
Devin Vassell
More good stuff from Vassell. Once again, the harder the shot, the more likely he was to make it. Against a team like Oklahoma City, you need to knock down some tough shots — and Vassell did that on Tuesday night. He shot well from all areas, added in conscientious defense and extra rebounding, and kept his mistakes to a minimum on both ends. Vassell is another player who is playing a smart brand of basketball right now.
Grade: B+
Harrison Barnes
After a nightmarish run during the NBA Cup, Barnes is back in business. He poured in 20 points against the Thunder, while only needing nine field goal attempts. He hit a pair of threes and all six of his freebies. Defensively, Barnes was moving better than usual — although his rebounding and interior defense left a bit to be desired at times. But, yeah, getting a big offensive game from Barnes seems to always help everything else with this team. It was great to see him cooking after his recent lulls.
Grade: A-
Luke Kornet
I mean, wow, it’s difficult to critique Kornet’s play on this night. He didn’t miss a shot from the field or the free throw line on his way to eight points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots in 26 minutes. He made wise plays on the offensive end and seemed to always be in the right spot. Defensively, he held up well in all situations. From pick-and-roll coverage to defending the rim, Kornet was rarely a liability. All in all, he continues to do a great job.
Grade: B+
Keldon Johnson
Johnson has had an outstanding season and Tuesday night’s affair very well could have been his best game yet. While he was uncharacteristically low in rebounds (1) and free throw attempts (0), he totaled a team-high 25 points. He was 5-for-9 from three-point range, including a number of very timely makes. He added in 5-of-7 shooting from two-point territory, as he used his strength to get the looks he wanted. After a slow start defensively, Johnson turned it around in the second half. When he’s hitting shots, playing hard and bringing the enthusiasm, Johnson is one of the best bench pieces in the entire association.
Grade: A
Julian Champagnie
The good: Champagnie had two finishes in the lane, including a thunderous one-handed slam. His rebounding was excellent; he actually led San Antonio with ten boards. Despite some negatives, he remained confident and aggressive. Defensively, he took on challenges and did very well. The bad: Champagnie was 0-for-3 from three-point range. He also turned it over three times, including a couple of head-scratching decisions. There were also moments where he was slow to recognize loose balls and other uncharacteristic discombobulations. Overall: Champagnie had some lowlights that he’ll want to forget but, at the end of the night, he played his role well enough.
Grade: B-
Dylan Harper
Damn, this rookie knows how to play the game. He led the team with ten assists and didn’t turn the ball over a single time. As those numbers suggest, his playmaking and decision-making were fantastic. He understands the game at such a high level that he can pick apart the 2025-26 Thunder, one of the best defensive teams in history. Additionally, I thought Harper was marvelous on the defensive end. He had five of the team’s ten steals — and those steals weren’t by accident. He was reading situations early and playing the passing lanes expertly. Harper is a stud and he’s showing he has multiple avenues to beating you.
Grade: A-
Mitch Johnson
A 20-point win against a team that came in with a record of 26-3? Yeah, yes, that’s some good work. Johnson’s ability to maximize Wembanyama in a bench role is a sight to behold. I loved his rotation, his offensive gameplan and his defensive gameplan. He couldn’t have done much better tonight in any category.
Grade: A