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The San Antonio Spurs seem like the kryptonite to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Spurs beat the Thunder 117-102 tonight, marking the third time they’ve beaten the best team in the league, which has otherwise lost just two games. After tonight’s game, Spurs star Victor Wembanyama acknowledged his team’s success.

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“I mean, this is like a playoff series,” Wembanyama told reporters when asked about what he’s learned from facing the Thunder. “We’ve played them three times in, I don’t know, 10 days maybe. We learned a lot on the technical side. I don’t want to say too much. Keep something for us.”

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The Spurs first upset the Thunder in Wembanyama’s first game back from a calf strain in the NBA Cup semifinals, coming off the bench for the first time in his career. Following that game, they faced off on the 23rd, when the Spurs succeeded yet again, taking a twenty-point win despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander putting up 33 points.

Tonight, the team managed to contain Gilgeous-Alexander to just 22 points, while De’Aaron Fox put up 29 points to help contain the Thunder for the third time. The two teams are set to face off two more times this season due to playing in the same division, so hoops fans have a lot to look forward to in one of the marquee matchups this season.

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Wembanyama has quickly evolved over his three years in the NBA, and, according to veteran NBA reporter Marc Spears, might be motivated by Thunder center Chet Holmgren‘s early success.

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“I was told by somebody inside that room that Wemby is motivated by Chet,” Spears reported earlier this season. “Chet having one up on him on the championship.”

However, the Frenchman has denied any rivalry between the two and believes that comparisons between them are unwarranted.

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Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs Keep Rolling as Thunder Finally Crack at Home

The San Antonio Spurs‘ surge has stopped feeling like a hot streak. Instead, it’s a statement. The Spurs walked into Paycom Center, stealing a 15-point win to extend their winning streak to eight straight games, their longest since the 2018-19 season.

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With them having beaten the Thunder in every contest so far, it seems like the Spurs have figured out something the rest of the NBA is still working on.

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For the Thunder, this loss was more than the final score suggested. OKC dropped back-to-back games for the first time all season, losing four of their last six after opening the year with a 24-1 record. Apart from San Antonio accounting for three of their five losses, they also snapped the Thunder’s perfect home record, which was 14-0 in Oklahoma City outside of NBA Cup play.

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Victor Wembanyama helped shut the door tonight when his opponents started building momentum. After OKC cut the deficit to single digits in the fourth quarter, Wembanyama drilled a well-timed three to put the Spurs back up. He finished tonight’s game with 19 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, and the Spurs held the Thunder to under 40% shooting and about 25% from three.

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Siddharth Rawat

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Siddharth Rawat is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports, focused on covering roster moves and injury updates from the Newsroom Desk. Combining a background in literature with analytical approach, he provides reports that go beyond surface-level news. Siddharth has closely followed the Cleveland Cavaliers for years, offering timely and insightful updates on any trades, injuries, or roster shifts involving the team. In addition to his sports journalism, Siddharth is a passionate gaming content specialist with extensive knowledge of game culture and esports. He holds a degree in literature and computer science and has experience in organizing esports events and conducting industry research. His blend of creativity, structure, and research experience allows him to craft engaging content and community-focused experiences tailored for gaming and interactive media audiences.

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Shreya Singh

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