For the fourth time this season, two of the NBA’s premier young squads meet as the Oklahoma City Thunder (33-7) welcome the San Antonio Spurs (27-12).
No team has posed more problems for the defending champions than Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs, who have swept all three of their previous matchups against Oklahoma City this year.
San Antonio handed the Thunder defeats by margins of two, 20 and 15 points in those first three meetings, accounting for nearly half of Oklahoma City’s seven losses this season.
Here’s a preview of this game, scheduled for an 8 p.m. ET tipoff.
Spurs vs Thunder Odds
Moneyline: Spurs (+230) vs Thunder (-276)
Spread: Spurs +7.5 (-110) vs Thunder -7.5 (-110)
Total (O/U): Spurs o228.5 (-110) vs Thunder u228.5 (-110)
Editor’s note: The odds could change close to the game. The odds listed were as per available information at the time of writing.
Spurs vs Thunder Preview and Prediction
Preview
This marks the fourth regular-season meeting between the two clubs, now firmly established as two of the Western Conference’s elite. Oklahoma City owns the league’s best record at 33-7, while San Antonio sits 5.5 games back in second place in the West.
In each of the Spurs’ victories over the Thunder, Victor Wembanyama came off the bench and averaged 17.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Now back in the starting lineup, Wembanyama looks to reassert himself against Oklahoma City.
Since those wins, however, San Antonio has cooled off, posting a 4-5 record over its last nine games. Stephon Castle paced the Spurs against the Thunder earlier this season with 21.7 points per game, followed closely by De’Aaron Fox at 19.0.
But over the past nine games, Castle and fellow young guard Dylan Harper have struggled mightily, combining to shoot just 33.2% from the field and 17.5% from beyond the arc, according to NBA data.
Meanwhile, since their Christmas meeting, the Thunder have gone 7-2, grinding out wins despite uneven shooting. Their last three victories all required comebacks against Utah, Memphis and Miami.
Oklahoma City will be eager to shake off its Spurs struggles before embarking on a demanding four-game road trip against the Rockets, Heat, Cavaliers and Bucks.
Prediction
Both teams will be without key contributors, with the Thunder missing Isaiah Hartenstein and the Spurs sidelining Devin Vassell. This will be Oklahoma City’s first matchup with San Antonio this season without its double-big starting lineup, and the first with Wembanyama starting for the Spurs.
While those changes could alter the dynamics, Oklahoma City is expected to do a better job containing San Antonio’s guards, limit the Spurs’ offense without Vassell, and finally break through for its first win against them this season.
Our prediction: Thunder win by 13.
Spurs vs Thunder Player Props
- Victor Wembanyama O/U 21.5 points – Take the over.
- Jalen Williams O/U 17.5 points – Take the over.
- Chet Holmgren O/U 16.5 points – Take the over.
- De’Aaron Fox O/U 18.5 points – Take the under.
