Oklahoma City turned an early hole into a convincing postseason statement Friday night, storming back to beat San Antonio 123-108 in the 2025-26 NBA Playoffs. The Thunder trailed by 15 before settling in behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s playmaking and a balanced scoring effort that gradually wore down the Spurs. By the final minutes, what began as a comeback had become a controlled 15-point victory.
Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 26 points and 12 assists, repeatedly creating clean looks as the Thunder regained their footing. Jared McCain added 24 points, giving Oklahoma City another reliable scoring punch. For San Antonio, Victor Wembanyama scored 26 points and Devin Vassell added 20 points and seven rebounds, but the Spurs could not hold their early edge.
The decisive moment
The game turned quickly in the second quarter, when Oklahoma City grabbed the lead for good with 11:18 remaining in the period. That stretch changed both the tempo and the tone, as the Thunder began to dictate possessions instead of chasing the game.
After absorbing San Antonio’s early surge, Oklahoma City tightened up and started attacking with better rhythm. Gilgeous-Alexander’s control was central to that shift, and the Thunder never let the Spurs fully reestablish themselves once the lead changed hands.
By the numbers
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder: 26 points, 2 rebounds, 12 assists
- Jared McCain, Thunder: 24 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
- Victor Wembanyama, Spurs: 26 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
- Devin Vassell, Spurs: 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
- Oklahoma City overcame a 15-point deficit and won by 15
The box score reflected Oklahoma City’s balance as much as its star power. Gilgeous-Alexander orchestrated the offense, McCain supplied timely scoring, and the Thunder turned a game that once looked shaky into one that felt increasingly one-sided as it moved along.
San Antonio still got high-end production from Wembanyama and Vassell, but the absences of Drew Eubanks, Keegan Murray and De’Andre Hunter left the Spurs with less margin for error. Against a deep and composed Oklahoma City team, that became harder to overcome as the night progressed.
What it means
For the Thunder, this was the kind of playoff win that underscores both resilience and structure. Falling behind by 15 did not force Oklahoma City out of its game plan, and its response showed how dangerous it can be when Gilgeous-Alexander is setting the table and multiple scorers are finishing plays.
For the Spurs, the opening burst proved they can pressure Oklahoma City, but sustaining that level is the challenge. San Antonio will need a more complete 48-minute performance, especially once the Thunder settle in defensively and begin controlling pace.
What to watch next
The next storyline in this 2025-26 NBA Playoffs matchup is whether San Antonio can maintain its early-game edge for longer stretches. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, will look to keep leaning on Gilgeous-Alexander’s command and the support scoring that turned this comeback into a decisive result.