Spurs, Victor Wembanyama Close Out Thunder in Upset Win: 'I Miss This (Bleep)!'
The San Antonio Spurs picked up arguably their best win of the season on Thursday at the Frost Bank Center over the Oklahoma City Thunder, which entered the contest as the second-best team in the Western Conference standings.
Thunder star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a game-high 31 points, but Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell each finished with 28 points to lead the Spurs to a 132-118 win in the first game back from the Rodeo Road Trip.
After the Thunder overcame a 14-point deficit to take the lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Wemby led the Spurs on a late run - which included a pair of triples in the final four minutes - to seal the win.
© Daniel Dunn, USA TODAY
"I miss this (bleep). I love it," Wembanyama said during an immediate postgame interview that was heard by the crowd at Frost Bank Center, resulting in a collective laugh from the fans.
Along with his 28 points, Wemby had 13 rebounds, seven assists, five blocks and two steals while going 9 of 17 from the floor and 5 of 7 from deep. Tre Jones (17 points, six rebounds, eight assists) and Jeremy Sochan (21 points, 10 rebounds) also came up big down the stretch. Keldon Johnson (10 points) and Zach Collins (13 points) both added double-digit scoring efforts off the bench.
The Spurs went 19 of 39 from 3-point range and had 39 assists compared to OKC's 20.
Thunder rookie center Chet Holmgren had 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Jalen Williams added 26 points and six rebounds. Isaiah Joe tallied 15 points off the bench.
The Spurs led for most of the third quarter after a back-and-forth first half but the Thunder ended the period on a 14-4 run to cut San Antonio's lead to 98-99 headed into the fourth.
This spurt turned into an 11-0 run, as OKC took the lead at 100-98. Momentum was completely on the Thunder's side.
But instead of folding to a superior team like they have late in multiple losses this season, the Spurs answered the call and out-played a team that had blown them out in the first two meetings of the season.
The Spurs will host the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.,
