Game ID: 22300853
Oklahoma City Thunder @ San Antonio Spurs
Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 8:30 PM ET
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAS 37 32 29 34 132OKC 37 27 32 22 118
OKC @ SAS ScoutingOKC @ SAS Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
SAS availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Barlow missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 23 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Graham back 2/12 after 9, 6 min since (43% of 14)
NEW Wesley 14 to 21 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backOUT Barlow missed 3 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 24 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Graham back 2/12 after 9, 6 min since (43% of 14)
NEW Wesley 14 to 21 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 25 since 1/02, out tonight
SAS availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 5 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 26 since 1/02, out tonight
SAS availability going into 2/29 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 4 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 27 since 1/02, out tonight
SAS availability going into 3/03 · 2 days' restOUT Graham missed 5 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 7 since 2/12, returns tonight: 0 min (3% of 13)
OUT Cissoko missed 28 since 1/02, returns tonight: 0 min (3% of 12)
SAS availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 6 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Barlow back 3/03 after 7, 0 min since (3% of 13)
BACK Cissoko back 3/03 after 28, 0 min since (3% of 12)
SAS availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 7 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Barlow back 3/03 after 7, 0 min since (3% of 13)
BACK Cissoko back 3/03 after 28, 0 min since (3% of 12)
SAS availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 8 since 2/22, returns tonight: 11 min (83% of 14)
OUT Cissoko missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Barlow back 3/03 after 7, 7 min since (54% of 13)
NEW Vassell 33 to 39 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 2/22 · 8 days' restBACK Jal. Williams back 2/06 after 3, 33 min since (104% of 32)
BACK Joe back 2/10 after 4, 15 min since (84% of 18)
NEW Wiggins 16 to 21 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backBACK Jal. Williams back 2/06 after 3, 34 min since (106% of 32)
BACK Joe back 2/10 after 4, 16 min since (88% of 18)
OKC availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Dieng missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Joe back 2/10 after 4, 17 min since (93% of 18)
OKC availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Dieng missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
OKC availability going into 2/29 · 1 day's restOUT Dieng missed 4 since 2/22, out tonight
OKC availability going into 3/03 · 2 days' restOUT Dieng missed 5 since 2/22, out tonight
OKC availability going into 3/04 · back-to-backOUT Dieng missed 6 since 2/22, out tonight
OKC availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT Jay. Williams missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 7 since 2/22, out tonight
OKC availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Jay. Williams missed 3 since 3/03, returns tonight: 17 min (132% of 13)
OUT Dieng missed 8 since 2/22, out tonight
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 22 and Vassell at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 106, shooting 53 percent and 46 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 106 a night to San Antonio's 122 and the arc, OKC at 46 percent from three to San Antonio's 37. Call it OKC 122, San Antonio 111, OKC by 11.
2/22 @ SAC 122-127 — SAS notes
SAS lost 122-127. SAS shot 51% (50 of 98) to SAC's 56%, 11 of 25 from three. Vassell led with 32 (13 of 18, 3 of 4 from three); Wembanyama added 19, Johnson 18. Q1 was theirs, 32-30, but the other 3 periods went 97-90 against them.
2/23 @ LAL 118-123 — SAS notes
SAS lost 118-123. SAS shot 44% (42 of 96) to LAL's 52%, 15 of 38 from three. Wembanyama led with 27 (7 of 16, 3 of 8 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Branham added 17, Sochan 15. Q4 was theirs, 28-26, the deficit cut from 7 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 97-90 against them. Johnson's -13 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/25 @ UTA 109-128 — SAS notes
SAS lost 109-128. SAS shot 46% (42 of 91) to UTA's 51%, 13 of 31 from three. Vassell led with 27 (10 of 19, 4 of 8 from three); Wembanyama added 22, Z. Collins 17. Q3 was theirs, 35-30, the deficit cut from 24 to 19, but the other 3 periods went 98-74 against them. Sochan's -21 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/27 @ MIN 105-114 — SAS notes
SAS lost 105-114. SAS shot 48% (39 of 82) to MIN's 46%, 16 of 41 from three. SAS turned it over 22 times to MIN's 14, and MIN turned those into 16 steals. Vassell led with 21 (9 of 18, 2 of 8 from three); Johnson added 20, Wembanyama 17. Q4 was theirs, 38-29, the deficit cut from 18 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 85-67 against them. Osman's -16 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/29 vs OKC 132-118 — SAS notes
SAS won 132-118. SAS shot 53% (48 of 91) to OKC's 49%, 19 of 39 from three. Vassell led with 28 (12 of 20, 3 of 6 from three); Wembanyama added 28, Sochan 21. The hinge was Q4, 34-22: a lead of 2 became 14. Jones was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/03 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Vassell at 24 and Wembanyama at 23 a game. 2 days' rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Siakam at 19 and Mathurin at 18 a game. One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, San Antonio at 43 percent from three to Indiana's 36 and the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 15 times a game to Indiana's 12. Call it Indiana 121, San Antonio 119, San Antonio keeping it close.
3/05 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 113, shooting 39 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 22 and VanVleet at 19 a game. Without Tate (2 straight). 2 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 19 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 25 and Vassell at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, San Antonio at 42 percent from three to Houston's 32 and the line, where Houston takes 26 free throws a game to San Antonio's 19. Call it Houston 116, San Antonio 112, San Antonio keeping it close.
3/07 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 16 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Monk at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Vassell at 23 and Wembanyama at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 17 times a game to Sacramento's 13 and the arc, San Antonio at 41 percent from three to Sacramento's 36. Call it Sacramento 118, San Antonio 114, San Antonio keeping it close.
3/09 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 16 free throws a game; Curry at 21 and Kuminga at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 18 free throws a game; Vassell at 24 and Wembanyama at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the arc, San Antonio at 42 percent from three to Golden State's 33 and the glass, where Golden State has been plus-5 a night and San Antonio minus-1. Call it Golden State 118, San Antonio 114, San Antonio keeping it close.
2/22 vs LAC 129-107 — OKC notes
OKC won 129-107. OKC shot 56% (50 of 90) to LAC's 45%, 17 of 35 from three. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 31 (12 of 19, 3 of 6 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Dort added 19, Jal. Williams 18. The hinge was Q3, 35-23: a lead of 2 became 14, and the lead reached 22. Wiggins was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
2/23 vs WAS 147-106 — OKC notes
OKC won 147-106. OKC shot 60% (55 of 92) to WAS's 39%, 20 of 40 from three. The glass went 56-43 for them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 30 (10 of 17, 1 of 3 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Holmgren added 25, Wallace 13. The hinge was Q1, 41-28: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 46. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +38.
2/25 @ HOU 123-110 — OKC notes
OKC won 123-110. OKC shot 47% (46 of 97) to HOU's 41%, 17 of 35 from three, and got to the line 15 times to HOU's 23. OKC turned it over 9 times to HOU's 18. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 36 (13 of 23, 2 of 3 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Holmgren added 29, Jal. Williams 22. The hinge was Q3, 30-21: OKC came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 4, and the lead reached 17. OKC trailed 57-62 at the half and won the second half 66-48. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
2/27 vs HOU 112-95 — OKC notes
OKC won 112-95. OKC shot 47% (44 of 93) to HOU's 39%, 10 of 27 from three. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 31 (11 of 21, 4 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Jal. Williams added 24, Holmgren 18. The hinge was Q2, 32-21: OKC came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 10, and the lead reached 20. Jay. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
2/29 @ SAS 118-132 — OKC notes
OKC lost 118-132. OKC shot 49% (44 of 89) to SAS's 53%, 9 of 31 from three. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 31 (12 of 22, 6 of 7 at the line); Jal. Williams added 26, Holmgren 23. Q3 was theirs, 32-29, the deficit cut from 5 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 103-86 against them. Dort's -17 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/03 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 29 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Durant at 25 a game. Without Gordon (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Holmgren at 22 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 43 percent from three to Phoenix's 35 and the line, where Phoenix takes 29 free throws a game to OKC's 19. Call it OKC 118, Phoenix 114, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/04 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 122, shooting 53 percent and 40 from three, 14 free throws a game; James at 30 and Davis at 25 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Vanderbilt (12 straight), Vincent (34 straight), Wood (6 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Holmgren at 22 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 111 a night to the Lakers' 122 and the glass, where OKC has been plus-1 a night and the Lakers minus-6. Call it OKC 119, the Lakers 117, the Lakers keeping it close.
3/06 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 102, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Simons at 21 and Grant at 14 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Sharpe (23 straight), Ayton (3 straight), Henderson (6 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-9 a night and OKC minus-5 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 16 times a game to OKC's 9. Call it OKC 112, Portland 111, Portland keeping it close.
3/08 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Jal. Williams at 22 a game. One day's rest. Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Butler III at 24 and Rozier at 19 a game. Without Herro (6 straight), Richardson (9 straight), Wright (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, Miami at 42 percent from three to OKC's 35 and the defense, Miami allowing 109 a night to OKC's 115. Call it OKC 116, Miami 110.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
OKCAW A. Wiggins
BB B. Biyombo
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
GH G. Hayward
IJ I. Joe
JG J. Giddey
JW J. Williams
JW Jal. Williams
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
LW L. Waters III
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
SASBW B. Wesley
CO C. Osman
DV D. Vassell
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
MB M. Branham
TJ T. Jones
VW V. Wembanyama
ZC Z. Collins
OKC/SAS the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Wembanyama, Spurs beat Thunder 132-118 to snap 5-game skid
SAN ANTONIO -- — San Antonio rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama punctuated snapping a five-game skid by shouting an explicative into a live house microphone to let Spurs fans know how much he missed playing in front of them.
“I think just let him be him,” San Antonio point guard Tre Jones said, laughing. “We don’t want to change that. Look where it’s gotten him to this point.”
Sound strategy given the historic start for the 20-year-old.
Wembanyama had 28 points and 12 rebounds, Devin Vassell also scored 28 points and the Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 132-118 on Thursday night.
Wembanyama added seven assists, five blocks and two assists while shooting 9 for 17 from the field and 5 for 7 on 3-pointers while playing the entire fourth quarter.
He is the first player in NBA history with 10 rebounds, five assists, five blocks, and five 3-pointers in a game.
“It’s a lot of mental,” Wembanyama said “You know Kobe (Bryant, the late Los Angeles Lakers star) said to win a game, it mostly takes shots, big shots, because they don’t call like any fouls. It’s not as much the physical battle. Even though in defense it’s 90 percent effort, but offensively it’s a lot of mental.”
San Antonio returned to the Frost Bank Center after finishing 1-8 on their annual Rodeo Road Trip.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points for Oklahoma City. Jalen Williams added 23, and Chet Holmgren had 23.
Oklahoma City (41-18) dropped a game behind Minnesota (42-17) atop the Western Conference. The Spurs (12-48) are last in the West, but have beaten the Timberwolves and Thunder in the past month.
“It’s just another reminder that this is the NBA,” Holmgren said. “No team is in the NBA for no reason. No player is in the NBA for no reason. Any team can beat another on any given night regardless of record or anything. They came out confident. Part of that was them, part of that was us. We should be better the next one.”
Jeremy Sochan added 21 points after failing to score in the Spurs’ previous game.
Wembanyama punctuated back-to-back 3-pointers in the final 3 1/2 minutes with a blocked shot he captured in his hand on Chet Holmgren’s two-point attempt at the top of the key.
“He obviously is not afraid to put himself out there,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “He will take shots and he is not afraid. He is not worried if he misses it or what the consequences are or anything like that. He likes those moments.”
Holmgren had a head start in the battle between Rookie of the Year candidates. Holmgren made a 3-pointer in the opening minutes as Wembanyama charged at him with his right arm fully extended. Wembanyama was limited to one rebound and missed his first two attempts as Holmgren defended.
The centers traded plays after that, including a series of possessions in the opening minutes of the second quarter.
“They came out with a lot of confidence,” Holmgren said. “A lot of guys stepped up and hit big shots. Credit to them for coming ready to play.”
Wembanyama lowered his shoulder to push past Holmgren and score on a short hook shot. Holmgren followed by rolling off a pick to lose Wembanyama for an uncontested dunk. Wembanyama then made a 3-pointer over Holmgren.
As for his postgame slip, Wembanyama laughed and said he is still adjusting.