OKC Thunder: 3 keys to defeating shorthanded Spurs

The OKC Thunder are back in action tonight facing the San Antonio Spurs for the second time this season.

OKC enters the match following a disheartening loss to the Miami Heat on Monday. While OKC kept the match close through the first half the combination of not having Al Horford and playing the second game of a back-to-back set caught up to them.

As a result, the Thunder fell 94-108 as the Heat pulled away via a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter. Although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t make the All-Star Game reserve list he sure served up a perfect final audition.

SGA delivered 27 points on 10 of 15 from the field, 2 of 3 from deep, 5 of 6 from the charity stripe as well as two rebounds, five assists, a steal, and a block.  Unfortunately, the Thunder ran out of gas late in the match and registered their 19th loss of the season.

With that let’s dive into the three keys for the Thunder to even up the season series versus the Spurs.

OKC Thunder key number 1: Jump on decimated Spurs

In stark contrast to the OKC Thunder who will play their third game in four days the San Antonio Spurs enter having not played a competitive match in 10 days (February 14th).

While the Rockets and Mavericks endured postponements last week due to the inclement weather in Texas the Spurs had to postpone four games. However, the reason wasn’t due to the weather in San Antonio. Rather, four Spurs tested positive for COVID-19 and another is being quarantined due to contact tracing.

The long layoff could be viewed as a positive given the players get rest, but the Spurs were on a roll having won five of their last six games. That momentum is lost and because so many players are in quarantine it also didn’t allow for practice team — or at least not with a full complement of players.

While the Spurs will be rested, there will be rust and as you’ll see in the injury list below will be without at least six members of their core.