De’Aaron Fox scored 29 points and San Antonio handed Oklahoma City a 117-102 loss on Dec. 25 in Oklahoma City, the Spurs’ third victory over the defending champions in two weeks. Victor Wembanyama recorded 19 points and 11 rebounds while Stephon Castle added 19 points and seven assists as San Antonio improved to 23-7. The Spurs shot 53.6% as a team and limited the Thunder to 38.9% from the field. The defeat was Oklahoma City’s second home loss of the season and extended San Antonio’s winning streak to eight games.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: Spurs 117, Thunder 102 — San Antonio beat Oklahoma City in Oklahoma City on Dec. 25, 2025.
- Leading scorer: De’Aaron Fox poured in 29 points; Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle each had 19.
- Rebounds: Wembanyama finished with 11 rebounds; Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren posted double-doubles with 12 boards each for the Thunder.
- Shooting gap: Spurs shot 53.6% overall; Thunder shot 38.9% from the field.
- Streaks and records: San Antonio extended its streak to eight straight wins and improved to 23-7; Oklahoma City entered the game atop the West but fell in its second home defeat.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 22 points, making 7 of 19 field-goal attempts, while extending his run to 102 consecutive games of 20+ points.
- Season series: Spurs have beaten the Thunder three times in the last two weeks, including an NBA Cup semifinal on Dec. 13 and a win in San Antonio two days earlier.
Background
The matchup carried extra weight: Oklahoma City began the season 24-1 through 25 games, one of the best starts in recent NBA history, and entered Dec. 25 atop the Western Conference standings. San Antonio has surged in December, positioning itself as a genuine contender with a blend of veteran guard play and Wembanyama’s two-way impact. The teams had already met twice within a short span — the Spurs won an NBA Cup semifinal on Dec. 13 and a league game in San Antonio on Dec. 23 — leaving the Thunder to seek answers at home. League observers had been watching whether Oklahoma City’s early-season dominance could withstand sustained pressure from top Western rivals as the schedule tightened.
Personnel and stylistic contrasts shaped expectations. The Thunder rely heavily on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring consistency and a frontcourt rotation centered on Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, while the Spurs emphasize ball movement and spacing around Wembanyama and backcourt scorers such as Fox and Castle. Coaching matchups, depth and recent form all favored a Spurs team with momentum; Oklahoma City faced questions about adjustments after losing three of its last six. The Dec. 25 meeting was also a measuring stick ahead of their next scheduled encounter on Jan. 13 in Oklahoma City.
Main Event
Oklahoma City opened aggressively, making its first seven field-goal attempts and jumping to an 18-12 lead, forcing San Antonio to respond. Fox ignited the comeback with scoring bursts; he finished the first half with 21 points and helped the Spurs lead 69-60 at halftime. San Antonio’s offense found high-efficiency looks, while the Thunder struggled to convert consistently from the floor.
The Spurs expanded the margin in the third quarter, pushing ahead 85-68 midway through the period. Dylan Harper’s dunk late in the quarter made it 91-74 and San Antonio closed the period up 95-79. Defensive pressure and better shot selection enabled the Spurs to sustain control in the fourth quarter and protect a double-digit lead down the stretch.
Individually, Wembanyama produced a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double, providing interior defense and second-chance opportunities. Stephon Castle complemented the attack with seven assists and 19 points, keeping ball movement productive. For Oklahoma City, Isaiah Hartenstein’s 13 points and 12 rebounds and Chet Holmgren’s 10 points and 12 rebounds were bright spots, but the supporting cast could not overcome poor team shooting.
Analysis & Implications
San Antonio’s efficient offense (53.6% shooting) against a Thunder defense that converted only 38.9% underscores a tactical edge: the Spurs generated cleaner looks and converted at a high rate, magnifying Oklahoma City’s offseason and matchup vulnerabilities. The result suggests the Spurs have solved certain lineups that had given them trouble earlier in the season, using Fox’s scoring and Castle’s playmaking to complement Wembanyama’s rim presence.
For the Thunder, the game highlighted concerns about perimeter shooting and isolation dependencies when Gilgeous-Alexander has an off-shooting night (7-of-19). SGA’s streak of 102 straight 20-point games continued, but efficiency slipped; sustained playoff-level defenses will look to force more contests like this where supporting scoring must compensate.
Standings implications are immediate: San Antonio’s eighth straight win tightens the Western Conference race and narrows the gap with Oklahoma City. If the Spurs maintain this form, their margin for error in the playoff race shrinks for opponents. Oklahoma City must address spacing and shot creation from its role players before the rematch on Jan. 13 to reclaim control of a series of critical head-to-head meetings.
Comparison & Data
| Team | Record | FG% | Leading Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Spurs | 23-7 | 53.6% | De’Aaron Fox (29) |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | (record entering game atop West) | 38.9% | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (22) |
The table above summarizes the gap that decided the contest: San Antonio’s superior shooting and balanced scoring versus Oklahoma City’s fall-off in conversion. Over the last six games the Thunder have gone 2-4 and have lost three times to the Spurs in a short span, indicating either a matchup problem or a short-term slide; determining which will require further sample size and tactical review. The Spurs’ ability to sustain high offensive efficiency will be the key variable moving forward.
Reactions & Quotes
San Antonio shot 53.6% from the field and held Oklahoma City to 38.9% overall.
Official box score/NBA
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander extended his run to 102 consecutive games of 20 or more points despite a 7-for-19 shooting line on Dec. 25.
Official box score/NBA
The Spurs have now beaten the Thunder three times in the span of two weeks, including an NBA Cup semifinal on Dec. 13.
Game summaries/ESPN & AP
Unconfirmed
- Whether the Spurs’ three wins over the Thunder in two weeks represent a sustainable tactical advantage for San Antonio or a short-term variance remains to be confirmed by subsequent matchups.
- No official injury updates affecting availability for the Jan. 13 rematch have been announced; any roster changes are unconfirmed at this time.
Bottom Line
San Antonio’s 117-102 road victory on Dec. 25 showcased a team firing on multiple cylinders: efficient shooting, balanced scoring and stout rebounding from Wembanyama. The result extended an impressive eight-game winning streak and flipped the recent head-to-head momentum firmly toward the Spurs, who have now beaten the Thunder three times in a short stretch.
Oklahoma City retains elite talent and a deep early-season resume, but the Thunder must fix efficiency and secondary scoring to avoid a potential slide in the Western Conference race. The next meeting on Jan. 13 in Oklahoma City will be an important checkpoint to determine whether these Dec. results signal a longer-term trend or a temporary stretch of Spurs dominance.