Both the Thunder and Spurs have young cores, with Kia MVP contenders, smart front offices and solid coaches.
SAN ANTONIO — This is a wish that can be envisioned, publicized, perhaps rationalized. But above all, in order to be taken seriously, it must be realized. And in the case of Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio, the rivalry that the basketball world desperately craves and anticipates, well that hasn’t happened yet, not now, not three games into the Western Conference Finals.
And not until the Spurs make it happen.
Until further notice, the Thunder remain in control and command, bringing more troops, smarter adjustments, better composure and all the plays when it truly matters.
They’re up 2-1 in the series after swatting away the Spurs’ 15-0 run to start Game 3 and eventually cruised with room to spare Friday in a breezy 123-108 win. The one-game margin in the series might not seem comfortable, at least until context is applied.
Because here are the unimpeachable details so far:
- The Thunder have been without Jalen Williams for nearly two games with nagging and recurring hamstring issues; he of course is the former All-NBA player who serves as OKC’s scoring wingman to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
- The Spurs needed not just a colossal performance from Victor Wembanyama to capture their lone win, but his deep 3-pointer to force a second overtime in that win.
- And when the series shifted to their home court Friday, the Spurs were rather flat overall, Wembanyama in particular wasn’t impactful, while Dylan Harper and De’Aaron Fox are clearly dealing with lingering effects from injury.
Meanwhile, the Thunder’s strength in numbers once again is devastating. They are reserves in name only, and they outscored the Spurs’ bench by an incredible 76-23. Jared McCain was insane with 24 points and showed he’s much more than a 3-point shooting threat. In this series, the bench totals are 183 for the Thunder — OKC’s subs have scored 50-plus in three straight games — and 64 for the Spurs.
Jared McCain (22 points) and Jaylin Williams (18 points) both score playoff career-highs as the Thunder bench propels them to win.
Conversation can change quickly in these playoffs; we’ve seen it happen many times. It’ll just require more from the Spurs, a young team trying to skip a few steps in its transition into a championship contender and scary enough to pull that off … soon.
But right now? Against OKC, the defending champions? The only team in this series that has been there and done that already?
“It’s the first playoffs for me, for us,” said Wemby. “Of course there’s going to be hard trials. That is expected. But now we’re going to see what we’re made of.”
A rivalry needs to be evenly contested in order to be classified as one. The four wins by the Spurs over OKC during the regular season certainly raised possibilities. But there’s a difference between playing a game on a random February night, and in a best-of-seven series where adjustments can be made and lessons are learned and clues are unlocked.
It’s a roundabout way of saying rivalries, like trees, need to mature. This one hasn’t.
From the standpoint of potential, then yes, Spurs-Thunder could someday rank with the greatest in-conference rivalries ever, right with those Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics classics featuring Julius Erving and Moses Malone, Larry Bird and Kevin McHale. These rivalries aren’t between teams in separate conferences and therefore aren’t playing for the NBA championship, but that makes it even harsher. Because the loser won’t even get a shot at a title and might be better qualified that the East team that reaches the Finals.
The ingredients in this rivalry recipe are apparent and real, though. Both teams have a young core, with Kia MVP contenders and depth, the front offices are smartly run, the teams are well coached and there’s no sign of locker room drama.
And it has spice: A chippy third quarter was prolonged Friday by hard fouls delivered by both teams. Alex Caruso chopped Stephon Castle. When Ajay Mitchell moments later clubbed Castle, pushing and shoving ensued. Next up? Wemby lowered his shoulder into Chet Holmgren, driving the Thunder center into the ground. However, there was no hair-pulling this time; Isaiah Hartenstein, guilty a few nights earlier, kept his fingers away from Castle’s dreads.
So in addition to being somewhat evenly matched, these teams don’t appear to be fond of each another, precisely the sour flavor a rivalry needs to be fully appreciated.
The Spurs and Thunder are also stocked with assets to nourish and improve the rosters over the next several years, which could sustain excellence for both teams. These two will think of each other whenever they make a trade and sign a free agent; everything will be done with “how will this help us against them” in mind.
They will not, however, make deals with each other. Coincidently, OKC president Sam Presti cut his teeth in the Spurs organization decades ago, but you can imagine the Spurs have since told him to lose their number. The Thunder and Spurs will talk trade when hell freezes over … twice.
In the meantime, it’s up to the Spurs to get this rivalry going sooner rather than later.
Wemby is dealing with an OKC defense that’s constantly adjusting and making him guess. One minute it’s Caruso, who surrenders more than a foot, guarding him, then a chunky Hartenstein, then a lengthy Holmgren, then a physical Jaylin Williams. Each offer different looks and degrees of sharp elbows.
Victor Wembanyama finishes with 26 points in a 123-108 Game 3 loss to the Thunder.
He has done so much to bring the Spurs this far, and with the exception of a few lapses has been brilliant for much of this series and the postseason. He feels he needs to reach another level, and quickly.
“I have trouble making my teammates better right now,” he said. “My shooting has been terrible. I need to be more of a team player. Rebound better, facilitate better.”
It’s not just Wemby. A bigger issue is the availability and health of Fox and Harper. Fox made his series debut but, after a fast start, appeared to re-injure his ankle. Harper left Game 2 with an adductor injury and Friday labored through 17 minutes, scored just six points.
“All we can do is just ask as much from them as they can give,” said Spurs coach Mitch Johnson.
And OKC knows how to rub the Spurs the wrong way. If it’s not Shai getting creative to draw fouls (he went 12-12 from the line Friday), it’s the rough play that’s designed to unravel the young Spurs.
“There’s no place for frustration,” said Wemby. “It’s annoying, of course, but we gotta use that as energy. They’re physical but the difference in that team is they’re experienced. They may be more smart about it.”
If the Spurs fail to draw even Sunday, this rivalry might soon be placed on hold. If so, it will eventually be worth the wait. Because this features Shai, a two-time MVP, and Wemby, who might soon have a string of MVPs. It has Wemby’s “ethical” comment from earlier in the season regarding OKC’s controversial style of play. It has the Spurs’ fans who directed “flopper” chants at Shai. And so on.
The folks who’ll eventually draw the most enjoyment from Spurs vs. Thunder will be basketball fans on the outside. Meanwhile, in San Antonio and Oklahoma City, the stress level will be steep.
It’s not exactly that way right now, at least not in OKC. There’s a season, right now, that in order for this series to develop suspense, it’s up to the Spurs.
“We’re going to have to find the answers,” said Wemby.
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
