The San Antonio Spurs (17-7) challenge the juggernaut Oklahoma City Thunder (24-1) in the Emirates NBA Cup West Semifinal, where a trip to the championship game—and $500,000 per player—hangs in the balance. This neutral-site showdown pits the Spurs’ resurgent youth against OKC’s historic dominance, with the Thunder eyeing a 17th straight win. The battle tips off at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, the glitzy 17,500-seat venue hosting its second straight Cup semifinal.
Tipoff: 9:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. PT), streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. Vegas vibes could amplify the stakes, as San Antonio seeks an upset in a tournament where they’ve gone 4-0, while OKC boasts a flawless 5-0 Cup record.
Team Records and Standings
San Antonio Spurs: 17-7 (34 points), fifth in the Western Conference. The Spurs hold a +99 goal differential (2,751 points for, 2,652 against), ranking 16th in scoring (119.6 PPG) and 18th in defense (115.3 PPG allowed). They shine in field goal efficiency (48.6%, 9th) and free-throw shooting (79.6%, 13th), but rank 16th on threes (36.6%). ATS: 15-9 overall.
Oklahoma City Thunder: 24-1 (49 points), first in the West and matching the NBA’s best 25-game start ever. Their +386 differential (2,952 PF, 2,566 PA) underscores elite play: 2nd in scoring (123.0 PPG), 4th in defense (106.9 PPG allowed). FG% leads at 49.7%, with 37.4% from deep (5th) and 83.0% FT (3rd). ATS: 18-7.
OKC’s balance overwhelms, but San Antonio’s recent surge (9-3 without Wembanyama) tests the Thunder’s depth in a high-pressure spot.
Recent Team Forms
The Spurs are firing on all cylinders, riding a four-game win streak into Vegas after a 132-119 quarterfinal rout of the Lakers on December 10, where Stephon Castle dropped 30 points and 10 rebounds. Over their last 10 (8-2), San Antonio averages 121.4 PPG while allowing 112.8, with a +8.6 margin fueled by balanced scoring (five players in double figures vs. LAL). Before that: a 135-132 thriller at New Orleans on December 8 and a 114-112 squeaker at Orlando on December 3. Their lone recent stumble? A 130-117 loss at Cleveland on December 5. Wembanyama’s return adds firepower, but turnovers (14.8/gm) remain a bugaboo.
OKC is unstoppable, extending a 16-game streak with a 138-89 demolition of Phoenix on December 10—holding the Suns under 40% FG in a playoff-like clinic. Last 10: 10-0, averaging 126.2 PPG and 104.5 allowed (+21.7 margin), including blowouts like 131-101 at Utah (December 7) and 132-111 vs. Dallas (December 5). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP-caliber play (32.6 PPG last 10) anchors it all, with the Thunder forcing 15.2 turnovers/gm. No rust here—their only “close” game was a 124-112 road win at Golden State on December 2.
| Team | Last 5 Games | Points For/Against (Last 10) | Home/Road/Neutral Record |
| Spurs | W-W-L-W-W | 1,214/1,128 | 9-3-0 (Home) / 8-4-0 (Road) / 0-0-0 (Neutral) |
| Thunder | W-W-W-W-W | 1,262/1,045 | 12-0-0 (Home) / 12-1-0 (Road) / 0-0-0 (Neutral) |
Injury Report
Injuries are minimal but pivotal—San Antonio gets a massive boost with Wembanyama’s return, while OKC remains largely intact.
San Antonio Spurs:
Victor Wembanyama (C): Probable (Left Calf Strain) – Returning after 12 games out (since Nov. 14); expected minutes restriction, but his 20.5 PPG/10.2 RPG pre-injury changes everything.
David Jones Garcia (G): Questionable (G League Two-Way) – Limited impact if active (2.1 PPG in 10 GP).
Harrison Ingram (F): Out (G League Two-Way) – Rookie with minimal minutes (1.8 PPG).
Riley Minix (F): Out (G League Two-Way) – No NBA appearances yet.
Oklahoma City Thunder:
Isaiah Joe (G): Out (Left Knee Soreness) – Ruled out; 9.4 PPG off bench, key shooter (39.2% 3PT).
Nikola Topic (G): Out (Testicular Cancer) – Long-term, no timeline; undrafted rookie.
Thomas Sorber (C): Out (Right ACL Tear) – Season-ending from offseason; minimal role.
Coaches Gregg Popovich (SAS, interim Mitch Johnson?) and Mark Daigneault (OKC) lean on stars—Spurs’ bench tested, Thunder’s depth (10 players averaging 6+ PPG) shines.
Key Player Matchups
Wembanyama’s debut vs. OKC’s frontcourt looms large in this star-studded semifinal. Key battles:
Victor Wembanyama (SAS, C) vs. Chet Holmgren (OKC, C/PF): Wemby (20.5 PPG, 3.8 BPG pre-injury) returns to terrorize with length, but Holmgren (16.5 PPG, 2.4 BPG, 25 points vs. UTA) counters with mobility and range (37% 3PT). Expect paint dominance—Wemby’s blocks vs. Holmgren’s spacing could swing momentum.
De’Aaron Fox (SAS, PG) vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC, SG/PG): Fox (24.0 PPG, 6.8 APG; 31 vs. ORL) thrives in transition, but SGA (32.6 PPG, 6.2 APG; 38 at GSW) is MVP frontrunner, winning 55% of head-to-heads career. SGA’s mid-range clinic (56.2% FG) tests Fox’s on-ball pressure.
Stephon Castle (SAS, PG/SG) vs. Jalen Williams (OKC, SF): Castle’s breakout (30 points/10 boards vs. LAL) meets Williams (19.1 PPG, 4.5 APG), OKC’s versatile wing (8 boards vs. PHX). Castle’s athleticism vs. Williams’ IQ—watch for switch-hunting.
Devin Vassell (SAS, SG) vs. Lu Dort (OKC, SG): Vassell (18.5 PPG, 37% 3PT) exploits gaps, but Dort (10.9 PPG, elite defender at 1.4 SPG) clamps shooters (opponents 32% 3PT vs. him). Vassell’s pull-ups vs. Dort’s physicality define perimeter battles.
Projected lineups (subject to change):
SAS: Fox-Vassell-Castle-Johnson-Wembanyama | Castle-White-Hartenstein-Barnes-Sochan
OKC: SGA-Williams-Dort-Holmgren-Hartenstein | Caruso-Wallace-Dieng-Chet-King
Series History
The Spurs own a storied edge over the Thunder (formerly Seattle SuperSonics), leading 102-89 in 191 regular-season meetings (53.4% win rate) since OKC’s 2008 relocation. Including playoffs, San Antonio is 121-104 overall (53.8%), with four series wins (including 2014 WCF sweep). Recent history tilts Thunder: OKC 6-4 in last 10, outscoring Spurs 1,210-1,132 (+7.8 avg.). This season: First meeting. Neutral-site games? Spurs 3-1 all-time vs. OKC. Averages: 225.4 total points, with Under hitting 6 of last 10.
| Head-to-Head (Last 10) | SAS Record | OKC Record | Avg. Points (SAS/OKC) |
| Regular Season | 4-6 | 6-4 | 113.2 / 121.0 |
Betting Trends
Thunder: 18-7 ATS overall, 10-0 last 10; 12-1 as 9.5+ favorites; Over in 7 of last 10 (avg. 229.8 total).
Spurs: 15-9 ATS, 10-2 in December; 5-1 ATS Saturdays; 8-3 ATS as underdogs >9 points.
H2H: Thunder 7-3 SU last 10, but Spurs 6-4 ATS; public 68% on OKC ML, sharps nibbling Spurs +10 (Wemby factor).
Game Odds
San Antonio Spurs 232.5
Oklahoma City Thunder – 11
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, December 12, 2025
