Thunder Defeat Spurs in Season Opener, Gaining Revenge for Playoff Loss
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points against a Spurs team that eliminated them in the Western Conference Finals.
The Oklahoma City Thunder opened their season with a decisive 116-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 20, 2026. The win served as a measure of revenge for the Thunder, as the Spurs had ended their championship defense hopes in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on May 30.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the leading scorer for the Thunder, putting up 32 points in the game. Jared McCain also contributed significantly, scoring 20 points on efficient 6-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc. Oklahoma City held the lead for the majority of the game, only relinquishing it in the opening five minutes.
San Antonio's highly anticipated rookie, Victor Wembanyama, struggled offensively, scoring just 12 points and making only one of his thirteen field goal attempts. His lone successful field goal came as time expired in the third quarter, an alley-oop pass from De’Aaron Fox. Wembanyama missed his first 12 shots, and his alley-oop attempt in the second quarter was blocked by Thunder rookie Aday Mara.
The matchup was marked by intense physicality, continuing the rivalry's heated nature. Early in the second quarter, Fox received a Flagrant Foul 1 for an incident involving Chet Holmgren. This led to a scuffle that required Wembanyama and Jaylin Williams to be separated after a physical altercation. Wembanyama, J. Williams, K. Williams, and J. Williams each received technical fouls.
Following the altercation, Oklahoma City went on a 9-0 run, with Jalen and Kenrich Williams contributing five points. Though Harrison Barnes briefly ended the run with a three-pointer, the Thunder quickly responded with a 13-point streak, extending their lead to 59-33 after a Cason Wallace three-pointer. Oklahoma City outscored San Antonio 31-16 in the second quarter, heading into halftime with a commanding 65-44 lead.
The Spurs showed resilience in the second half, mounting a 23-9 run to cut into the deficit and bring the game within single digits after trailing by as many as 26 points. However, Gilgeous-Alexander and McCain combined for 25 second-half points to help Oklahoma City maintain their advantage and secure the season-opening victory.