Victor Wembanyama dominates and other takeaways from Thunder’s loss to Spurs

In only their third meeting on the NBA stage, Victor Wembanyama flexed his muscles against Chet Holmgren. The Spurs star waxed hot for five three-pointers and made some timely plays down the stretch to help end the five-game winning streak the OKC Thunder were riding high on, downing them by a final score of 118-132 on Thursday night. 

Pitted against Holmgren throughout the game, Wembanyama drilled two threes in the final three and a half minutes of action to upend Oklahoma City. The rookie blocked Holmgren’s jumper in the final two minutes, putting the cherry on top of the Spurs’ superb win. 

For his part, Holmgren finished the game with 23 points on an efficient 8-for-12 field shooting, seven rebounds, five assists, and one block in the Thunder’s loss.

Holmgren and Wembanyama have the leading Rookie of the Year candidates this season. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for the Thunder with 31 points on 12-of-22 shooting. Meanwhile, Jalen Williams added in 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting throughout the game. 

The Thunder did manage to go on a dominating 20-6 run during the latter half of the third, bridging the final two quarters before the Spurs leaned on Wembanyama’s brilliance to close the gap as he hit deep threes and crucial plays for his teammates to shut down OKC. 

Spurs’ wing Devin Vassell was also instrumental with 28 points, playing off Wembanyama’s gravity to open the floodgates for San Antonio.

Vassell made a buzzer-beating three to start the breakaway for the Spurs. Wembanyama then assisted on two of the next three baskets for the Spurs before his two long-range jumpers in the game's waning minutes helped seal OKC's fate. 

Here are some takeaways from the Thunder’s loss to the Spurs.