Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 32 points as the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder built a huge first-half lead and held on for a 116-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday in the season opener between last year’s top two teams in the Western Conference.
The Thunder swarmed San Antonio in the first half, leading by 21 points at the break after going 10-for-14 from beyond the arc. The Spurs closed to within seven points in both the third and fourth quarters, the latest on Stephon Castle’s 3-pointer with 4:18 remaining, but Oklahoma City made the plays down the stretch to secure the win.
Jared McCain added 20 points and matched his career-high with six 3-pointers for the Thunder. Chet Holmgren had 14 points and Jalen Williams finished with 12.
Castle led San Antonio with 24 points while Dylan Harper added 18, De’Aaron Fox hit for 14, Victor Wembanyama had 12 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots, and Keldon Johnson tallied 10 points. Wembanyama went 1 of 13 from the field, with his only basket on a dunk on a lob to end the third quarter.
Oklahoma City scorched the net from distance in the first quarter, making five of their six 3-point attempts and shooting 59.1% from the field overall to build a 34-28 lead after 12 minutes.
Tensions flared in the second quarter when Fox threw Holmgren to the floor while battling for position in the lane. Victor Wembanyama and Jaylin Williams were among those involved in the ensuing confrontation. Fox received a flagrant-1 foul, and four players were assessed technical fouls. The incident seemed to energize the Thunder, who went on a 9-0 run to extend their lead to 46-30 with 8:09 left in the second quarter.
Oklahoma City extended its lead to as much as 26 points before settling for a 65-44 advantage at the break. Gilgeous-Alexander’s 16 points led the Thunder, with McCain adding 11 and Holmgren contributing 10 in the first half.
The Spurs shot just 29.2% from the floor in the first half. Julian Champagnie and Wembanyama each scored eight points to lead San Antonio’s tepid attack, with all of Wembanyama’s points coming from the free-throw line after he went 0-for-7 from the field before halftime.
San Antonio rallied early in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 74-67 when Castle hit a layup halfway through the period. Oklahoma City responded to San Antonio’s surge and carried a 93-80 lead into the fourth quarter.
