Victor Wembanyama Keeps Mum on Tactical Secrets After Another Spurs Lopsided Win Over Thunder

Victor Wembanyama helped the San Antonio Spurs to a 117-102 win against the OKC Thunder on Thursday. Wemby contributed 19 points, 11 rebounds and two assists for his team’s third win in roughly two weeks against the defending champs. No other team has beaten the Thunder by double-digit margins other than the Spurs.

Wembanyama answered when asked in the postgame interview what he learned from facing the Thunder:

“This is like a playoff series. We learned a lot on the tactical side. … I don't want to say too much about it. Keep something for us. We definitely got some intelligence.”

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The Spurs’ first win against the Thunder happened in the NBA Cup semis in Las Vegas. Victor Wembanyama returned from a month-long absence due to a calf injury to help his team edge Oklahoma City 111-109 on Dec. 13.

The second Spurs-Thunder clash happened on Tuesday in San Antonio. After a closely fought match in the first three quarters, the home team surged to a 130-110 win, OKC’s most lopsided loss of the season.

The highly anticipated Christmas Day meeting was another seesaw battle in the first half. Victor Wembanyama and Co. started to take control of the game midway through the third quarter. Harrison Barnes’ floater with 6:04 left in the period pushed San Antonio’s lead to 85-68.

The Thunder cut the deficit to 108-98 after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a layup. San Antonio responded with an 8-2 run to take the fight out of the home team.

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Victor Wembanyama’s team beat Thunder at their own game

The OKC Thunder’s 104.6 defensive rating is the best in the NBA by a wide margin. The gap between the Thunder and the No. 2 Pistons (110.2 DRTG) is the same as the gap between Detroit and the No. 22-ranked Portland Trail Blazers (116.2).

Victor Wembanyama and his teammates showed they could beat the Thunder at their own game. The Spurs limited the Thunder, who have 49.0% efficiency, to 39% shooting. San Antonio’s 3-point defense also suffocated Oklahoma City to 25% efficiency, 11.9% less than what they average.

The 7-foot-4 center recorded one block, but he altered multiple shots around the rim. When he was on the floor, OKC became almost a strictly jump-shooting team.

The Thunder tried to create opportunities off the break, but San Antonio’s transition defense held firm. Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox, the Spurs’ speedy guards, helped limit the hosts to seven fastbreak points.

Victor Wembanyama did not elaborate about what he had learned from playing against the Thunder. On Thursday, the Spurs’ defense portrayed a clearer picture of what they could do.

Edited by Michael Macasero