The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder have a growing rivalry, and they meet for the third time in under two weeks. San Antonio has oddly had OKC’s number, but on the league’s biggest holiday stage, the defending champs will be eager to respond.

Catch the game tomorrow at 3:30 AM, Manila time.

AWAY: San Antonio Spurs (22-7, 10-5 AWAY)

Projected starting five:

  • De’Aaron Fox
  • Stephon Castle
  • Devin Vassell
  • Harrison Barnes
  • Victor Wembanyama

The Spurs have quietly become the Thunder’s biggest headache. They’re 2–0 against the defending champs, beating them once in the NBA Cup semifinals and again just the other day. That’s no fluke either – San Antonio looks balanced, confident, and oddly comfortable against a team that’s steamrolled almost everyone else. In many ways, the Spurs are starting to feel like OKC’s kryptonite.

What makes it more impressive is how they’ve done it. Victor Wembanyama hasn’t even cracked 25 minutes in either win, which says a lot about the Spurs’ depth and composure. They’re not overly dependent on one guy, even when that guy happens to be a generational talent. Wemby anchors everything, but De’Aaron Fox’s pace, Stephon Castle’s growth, and Devin Vassell’s scoring have all played major roles.

Beyond the main names, San Antonio’s role players have consistently filled gaps, defended hard, and kept the ball moving. This group looks like it’s growing together in real time, and the confidence is obvious. Win or lose, the Spurs are starting to look like a core piece of the NBA’s future – and right now, they’re not backing down from anyone.

HOME: Oklahoma City Thunder (26-4, 14-0 HOME)

Projected starting five:

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
  • Lu Dort
  • Jalen Williams
  • Chet Holmgren
  • Isaac Hartenstein

The Thunder are still the best team in the league, but the armor has cracked just a bit. After opening the season 24-1, they’ve gone 2-3 in their last five, with both losses coming at the hands of these same Spurs. You can bet that frustration is starting to creep in – and maybe even a little concern that San Antonio has figured something out.

That said, this is still Oklahoma City at home, where they remain a perfect 14-0. That alone tells you why they’re the reigning champions and the standard everyone is chasing. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to be the engine, capable of controlling games with ease, while Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren provide elite support on both ends of the floor.

Defense remains OKC’s calling card. They’re still one of the top-ranked defensive teams in the league, and that could dictate the tone of this matchup. With firepower on both sides, don’t be surprised if this turns into a grind-it-out game. The Thunder will be eager to remind everyone, especially the Spurs, exactly who runs the West.

PICKS

Spread: Thunder (-9)
Over/Under: Over (233.5)