Reigning champions Oklahoma City have the NBA’s best record, but they cannot beat San Antonio, with superstar Victor Wembanyama coming off the bench on Thursday to help lift the Spurs to an emphatic 117-102 victory.
De’Aaron Fox scored a game-high 29 points, while Wembanyama had 19 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes, and guard Stephon Castle added 19 points for the Spurs, who stretched their winning streak to eight games.
“My first Christmas game,” Fox said. “It feels great getting another victory.”
Photo: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
After roaring to a 24-1 start, the Thunder have dropped four of their past six games — three of those losses coming to the Spurs.
“When you play a team of this caliber, the details are much more magnified,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “We did a phenomenal job as the game progressed adhering to those nuances.”
Wembanyama would not call it a statement win for the season, but he says the Spurs have learned from beating the Thunder.
Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
“I’m not really sure it’s smart to think so far into the future,” Wembanyama said. “This is like a playoff series. We played them three times in 10 days so we learned a lot on the technical side.”
Oklahoma City lost for the first time in 15 home games this season, despite 22 points by reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Thunder sank their first seven shots to take an 18-12 lead, but the Spurs closed the first quarter on an 11-0 run for a 41-36 edge and never looked back.
Photo: AFP
“The guys were working their butts off,” Johnson said.
The Spurs improved to 23-7, second in the Western Conference behind the Thunder at 26-5.
Fox made 12 of 19 shots from the floor and three of four from three-point range.
“He was carrying us a little bit,” Wembanyama said. “He’s a guy who can make things happen.”
The Spurs have not reached the playoffs since 2019 and have not won a playoff series since 2017.
Elsewhere, Houston’s Amen Thompson scored 26 points to lead the Rockets over hosts the Los Angeles Lakers 119-96.
Kevin Durant added 25 points, while Alperen Sengun had 14 points and 12 rebounds for Houston.
“We wanted to come out here and play with a sense of urgency for 48 minutes,” Durant said. “The basketball world is watching you tonight.”
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 25 points, while four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James added 18 points.
James, the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, played in his 20th NBA Christmas contest, his holiday record falling to 11-9.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves had 12 points in 15 minutes before leaving with calf soreness.
In New York, Jalen Brunson scored 34 points to lead hosts the Knicks over Cleveland 126-124.
The Cavaliers, led by Donovan Mitchell’s 34 points, grabbed a 103-86 lead with 10 minutes, 25 second remaining, but New York closed on a 40-21 run to seize the victory.
Benson, who hit six of 12 from three-point range, lifted the Knicks ahead for good at 121-119 on a three-pointer with 65 seconds remaining.
It was Benson’s 90th 30-point game as a Knick, a total eclipsed only by Patrick Ewing and Carmelo Anthony.
Jordan Clarkson added 25 points off the New York bench.
In San Francisco, Stephen Curry scored 23 points despite shooting six of 18 overall and two of 10 from three-point range to lead Golden State over Dallas 126-116.
“Didn’t shoot it well, but we got a great win,” Curry said.
Seven Warriors scored in double figures, with Jimmy Butler contributing 14 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
The Mavericks’ 19-year-old forward Cooper Flagg, the second-youngest NBA Christmas starter after 18-year-old James in 2003, scored a game-high 27 points.
In Denver, Colorado, the Nuggets edged the Timberwolves 142-138.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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