The Spurs are again within the win column once more, simply in time for a go to from the NBA’s greatest crew (by file), recent off of their fortieth win of the season.
The Spurs have had the Thunder’s quantity for a lot of the season, with a 3-1 file in opposition to them, however the Thunder lastly flipped the tables within the final contest with a 21-point win, and I count on they’ll be out to avenge each their file in opposition to San Antonio and the once-building sentiment that they’re within the reigning champs’ collective heads.
The guide is out on how the Spurs can defeat OKC. They have to deny penetration and inside scoring, chorus from giving the Thunder any respiratory room past the arc, and keep away from getting sloppy in opposition to the crew that leads the NBA in factors off turnovers.
Rebounding (4th) will help in denying the Thunder further possessions and preserving them from getting straightforward factors from an offense that’s spent a lot of the season within the high 10 for factors scored within the paint.
Whereas the Thunder are close to the highest of the league in Efficient Area Aim Proportion (4th) and True Taking pictures Proportion (third), a vulnerability has been uncovered by the Spurs of their long-distance taking pictures.
Oklahoma Metropolis sits in the midst of the pack in each three-point proportion (fifteenth) and three-pointers made (fifteenth), and their offense merely doesn’t transfer anyplace close to as fluidly after they’re having difficultly inside.
It’s attainable that that is associated to a scarcity of distributors, however whether or not it’s a personnel situation or their ball-movement’s Achilles heel is a matter of debate. That they’re 18th in assists, twenty eighth in help proportion, and 18th in help ratio shouldn’t be. One thing goes amiss after they’re denied the inside, suggesting their offense is driving a wonderful line between team-play and heliocentric distribution.
Offensively, the Spurs might want to push the tempo at each alternative, train endurance in selecting the stingy Thunder protection aside, and make the paint their residence. The Thunder are tops within the league in quick break protection and denying factors within the paint, however the velocity of San Antonio’s guards and Wemby’s size have positioned them as one of many few groups that may create benefits in these areas.
And, in fact, the Spurs will want their long-distance shooters to be firing on all cylinders. A number of San Antonio’s video games have gone as their three-point taking pictures has gone, and that’s led to a little bit of scuffling over the past month.
It’s impossible they’ll style victory if that goes poorly in opposition to the Thunder, until they will return the favor defensively. That may very well be a lofty problem with perimeter-defending maestro Stephon Citadel out for the evening.
Nonetheless, this Spurs crew has confirmed that the Thunder should not some unbeatable juggernaut, they usually appear to play them with most focus, confidence, and drive. Their playbook in opposition to the Thunder has given different groups concepts, and OKC is coming into this one at 6-4 over the past ten video games (an identical to the Spurs), so don’t be shocked if they arrive away with one other victory in opposition to a Thunder crew that refuses to acknowledge how good they really are.
Now, if we might solely get them to play this manner in opposition to everybody!
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (40-11) vs San Antonio Spurs (33-16)
February 4th, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT
Watch: ESPN/FanDuel Southwest| Hear: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Jeremy Sochan – Out (Quad), Lindy Waters III – Out (Knee), Stephon Citadel – Uncertain (Groin)
Thunder Accidents: Thomas Sorber – Out (Knee), Nikola Matter – Out (Most cancers), Ajay Mitchell – Day-t0-Day (Stomach Pressure), Jalen Williams – Out (Hamstring)
