It’s that time of the year once again: holiday season is back. After a thrilling NBA Cup tournament, the league gifts fans with yet another slate of exciting winter matchups, most notably a matchup between the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the rising San Antonio Spurs.
The Thunder and Spurs recently faced each other in the NBA Cup semi-finals, which resulted in a close victory for the Spurs led by Victor Wembanyama’s 22 points and 9 rebounds. They went back and forth, but the Spurs ultimately pulled away victorious. Social media has exploded with the narrative that this may very well be the next big NBA rivalry, with them consistently playing games down to the wire. Competitive energy between the Thunder and Spurs isn’t anything new, as the Thunder, led by Kevin Durant, faced off against the Spurs in the 2016 Western Conference finals, where the Thunder ultimately advanced to the finals. When asked about a potential rivalry that may be brewing between the two teams, MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said, “I’ve noticed that anything can happen in a couple years […] not 100 percent, but definitely a possibility.”
Both teams are young and packed with star players who can make an impact on the court. Their ability to handle both sides of the court makes it difficult for either side to gain a sizable advantage over the other. Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are two of the most exciting players in the league and have proven that they can lead their respective teams to victory.
Over the offseason, the Spurs acquired Dylan Harper, who scored 21 points in the NBA Cup final, and extended their new acquisition, De’Aaron Fox, who was acquired to fill in their spot at the point guard position. Fox has had an immediate impact for the Spurs, averaging 23.9 points per game and leading the Spurs in steals per game with 1.4. On the other hand, the Thunder extended their big three in SGA, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren to secure their championship core. All three were top 3 in points per game for the Thunder last season and currently continue to hold this stat this season. Alexander leads the charge on offense, Holmgren on defense, while Williams brings energy and impacts both sides of the ball. Both teams have their squads locked in to make a strong push in the playoffs and be the ones to secure the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Despite the Spurs’ victory in the NBA Cup, the Thunder’s desire to bounce back will serve as a driving force on Christmas and will aid them in their path to victory. The Thunder have proved they can compete against the Spurs with an explosive offense yet must improve on their defensive side; the Spurs had four players with over twenty points in the NBA Cup semi-finals. If the Thunder can successfully tighten up their defense, you can expect a win from the defending champions come Thursday afternoon.
The best of the best will be on display during Christmas, so ensure you tune in and get a glimpse of what a potential Western Conference Playoffs matchup may look like. Expect a great and competitive game where two top offenses meet to prove who’s the team to beat in the Western Conference. This may very well be the start of an exciting rivalry in the NBA, and I’m all for it, as all basketball fans should be.
