Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder entered Christmas Day looking to bounce back after dropping their previous two games against the San Antonio Spurs. The holiday showdown was expected to be OKC’s chance at redemption. Instead, the Thunder once again came up short against Victor Wembanyama and company and suffered a 117–102 defeat.
Throughout the season, the Thunder had been widely viewed as the league’s top team. However, following Thursday’s loss, Gilgeous-Alexander openly acknowledged that San Antonio has outplayed them during this stretch.
“We have to improve as a unit,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “You don’t drop three straight games to the same team in such a short period unless they’re better than you. That means we have to get better. We have to be honest with ourselves, and that applies to everyone — top to bottom — if we want to achieve our ultimate goal.”
“You don’t lose to a team, three times in a row … without them being better than you.” – Shai on the Spurs pic.twitter.com/GXfO3p0qUL
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 26, 2025
The reigning MVP continued by crediting the Spurs for their overall approach on the floor.
“They’re simply a really good basketball team,” Shai added. They understand how to play, they have talent, they do things the right way, and they play together. When you combine all of that, you end up winning games.”
Despite the setback, Oklahoma City still owns a 26–5 record and remains at the top of the Western Conference standings. Prior to this recent stretch, many believed the Thunder were the clear favorites to finish first in the West.
That narrative has shifted after San Antonio secured its third straight win over OKC in the same month. With a 23–7 record, the Spurs are now closing in on the Thunder in the race for the conference’s top seed.
Victor Wembanyama Reflects on Learning From Three Wins Over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and OKC
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama admitted that the three-game stretch against the Thunder provided valuable lessons, though he was careful not to reveal too much.
“I’ve definitely learned a lot,” Wembanyama said. “It really felt like a playoff series. We played them three times in maybe 10 days or so, and that taught us a lot from a tactical standpoint. I don’t want to say too much because I’d like to keep some things to ourselves, but we definitely gained some insight from facing them so often.”
The victory marked San Antonio’s first Christmas Day win since 2016 and their first eight-game winning streak since 2019.
For Oklahoma City, the loss was also notable as it represented their first home defeat of the season. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 22 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 13 points, while Jalen Williams and Alex Caruso each added 12. Chet Holmgren finished with 10 points in the loss.
