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How Social Media Reacted to the OKC Thunder Beating Spurs on Opening Night

How social media reacted to Oklahoma City spoiling San Antonio's home opener.
Derek Parker|
Oct 20, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dribbles against San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) in the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Oct 20, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dribbles against San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) in the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Oklahoma City ThunderSan Antonio Spurs

The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs faced off in their respective season openers on Tuesday night, in what could be another preview of the Western Conference Finals.

The two teams went all the way to Game 7 last season, with Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs narrowly outlasting OKC to send the previous champs home.

Tuesday's bout had everything, from a first-half blowout, to fight-back in the second half, and plenty of standout individual performances. Ultimately, the Thunder would spoil the Spurs' home-opener, winning 116-104 in regulation.

Here was how social media reacted to Tuesday’s tilt:

One major storyline for the Thunder was the return of star Jalen Williams, who missed a good chunk of the regular season and postseason last year due to injury.

Williams effectively picked up right where he left off, offering versatile play on both offense and especially defense.

It was no secret that Holmgren underperformed in last year’s conference finals, with Wembanyama across from him no less. Despite that, he brought energy and played within himself in the Thunder’s first frame, impacting the game several times.

OKC rookie Aday Mara has been a major subject of discussion for Thunder fans and the league as a whole, offering a 7-foot-4 body that can defend the rim and score on the interior, as he did plenty in preseason.

To begin his career, Mara played first-quarter minutes agains the Spurs’ own 7-foot-4 center.

Early in the second frame, tempers ignited when De’Aaron Fox sent Chet Holmgren to the hardwood. The teams would gather mid-court, and the refs would assess Fox with a Flagrant 1, and multiple Thunder platers with technicals for the dust-up.

Holmgren would continue to play well deep into the first half, showing a few different moments of further composure. He hit back-to-back free throws with the San Antonio crowd loud, and responded to Wembanyama blocking him with a block of his own.

As expected, San Antonio threw their hay-maker out of the half, with multiple Spurs getting in on the action. Stephon Castle specifically shot poorly in the first half, but ignited the spark early in the third to put his squad back in it.

While there were plenty of positive storylines for OKC overall, none were more important than the team’s two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who continues to look like the best player in the world.

Even with an All-World talent such as Wembanyama across from him, SGA was head and shoulders better than the next best player, constantly fueling Thunder runs.

No shooters were hotter Tuesday night than Jared McCain, the Thunder’s mid-season addition in the 2025-26 campaign. He hit threes time and again for OKC, finishing with 20 points on blistering 7-for-9 shooting overall.

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Derek Parker
DEREK PARKER

Derek Parker covers the National Basketball Association and has brought On SI five seasons of coverage across several different teams. He graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2020 and has experience working in print, video, and radio.

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