De'Aaron Fox leads the way as Spurs once again topple Thunder
- - De'Aaron Fox leads the way as Spurs once again topple Thunder
Kelly IkoDecember 26, 2025 at 7:03 AM
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De'Aaron Fox leads the way as Spurs once again topple Thunder
On Christmas Day, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-102 in a hotly contested battle between the top two teams in the West — their third meeting in less than two weeks.
Veteran guard De'Aaron Fox led the way with 29 points on efficient 12-for-19 shooting. Backcourt mate Stephon Castle added 19 points of his own, with Victor Wembanyama chipping in 19 points and 11 rebounds from the bench. Harrison Barnes and Dylan Harper combined for 27 points and nine rebounds.
Leading up to Thursday afternoon, the biggest storyline surrounding this matchup was whether the Spurs, having beaten the Thunder twice this season, were worthy of the "rival" label. But on an afternoon when San Antonio used a 17-4 run to eliminate an early eight-point deficit, took complete control of the game and limited Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 22 points on 19 shots for their third win over the champs inside of two weeks, it's nearly impossible to shake the label now.
Jalen Williams finished the game with 12 points and 6 assists, Chet Holmgren had 10 and starting center Isaiah Hartenstein added 13 points and 12 rebounds. No other Thunder teammate finished with more than 12 points.
With the win, the Spurs have now won eight straight (not including the NBA Cup Final), firmly cementing them as the second -best team in the West — and true contenders heading into the new year.
San Antonio's continued insistence on bringing Wembanyama off the bench has proven to be a tactical advantage, allowing their array of physical guards to set the tone before introducing the 7-foot-5 Frenchman. Oklahoma City found it difficult to find a suitable defensive approach to keep the Spurs out of the paint, despite an aggressive 2-3 zone. At the other end, Wemby's presence forced the Thunder away from the rim but couldn't convert on many of their open looks, shooting just 25 percent from deep. Key reserve Alex Caruso, who is shooting just 32 percent from 3 this year, missed 10 of 12 of his long-range shots.
The Thunder, who have now lost four out of six, must regroup quickly in their upcoming homestand against the 76ers, Hawks and Blazers to close 2025. Their next chance at a rematch with San Antonio will be Jan. 13.
Source: “AOL Sports”
