
Oklahoma City Thunder: A Champion Plagued by Doubt?
Nicolas Flamecourt

Jan 13, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams (8) celebrates with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) after he scored against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
After losing their first three matchups against the San Antonio Spurs this season, the Thunder finally found the key to success against one of the league’s rising teams. Oklahoma dominated the Spurs 119-98 Tuesday night, led by an exceptional performance from reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a remarkable performance with 34 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks, tying his career-high in that defensive category. The Canadian guard showed the full extent of his talent on both ends of the floor, confirming his status as a league superstar.
Jalen Williams also contributed with 20 points in a solid outing. Chet Holmgren, though struggling against Victor Wembanyama with only 8 points scored, still impacted the game with 3 blocks and 10 rebounds. For his part, Wembanyama, still on a minutes restriction, scored 17 points.
After the game, fans praised the Thunder’s ability to reverse the trend and avoid a fourth consecutive loss to the Spurs. Although San Antonio has already won the regular season series, Oklahoma City will look to salvage pride in their final matchup next month.
With the way both teams have started the season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them face off in the Conference Finals. The Thunder sit atop the Western Conference with an impressive 34-7 record, while the Spurs are close behind with an excellent 27-13.
This victory demonstrates the Thunder’s ability to adapt against an opponent that had given them problems early in the season. Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance once again confirms why he is considered one of the best players in the league today.







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