Oklahoma City Thunder Lose Third Straight to Spurs as Shooting Woes Sink Offense

The Oklahoma City Thunder lost to the San Antonio Spurs 102-112 on Thursday night. It was the Thunder’s third consecutive loss to the Spurs this season. The game highlighted a surprising offensive collapse for one of the league’s top scoring teams.

Oklahoma City was held well below its season average of 121.9 points per game. According to Reuters, the team’s star guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, was limited to a season-low 22 points.

Three-Point Percentage Plummets in Critical Matchup

The Thunder’s main struggle was from beyond the arc. The team shot a dismal 25% from three-point range. They made only 11 of 44 attempts in the contest.

This performance was a sharp drop from their season average. Oklahoma City entered the game as the fifth-best three-point shooting team in the NBA. Their usual 37.3% accuracy completely vanished on Thursday.

The poor shooting was a team-wide issue. Gilgeous-Alexander hit just one of six three-point attempts. Veteran guard Alex Caruso was two for twelve from deep.

Wembanyama’s Presence Forces Thunder into Unfamiliar Game

San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama altered the game’s dynamics. His defensive presence in the paint forced Oklahoma City to rely more on outside shots. The Thunder could not score abundantly inside as they typically do.

This strategy backfired due to the cold shooting night. The Spurs made the same number of threes as OKC but in 15 fewer attempts. This efficiency allowed San Antonio to control the game’s pace and secure the win.

Despite the loss, the Thunder dominated other statistical categories. They won the turnover battle and grabbed more offensive rebounds. This suggests the outcome hinged almost entirely on shooting variance.

The Oklahoma City Thunder must solve their shooting woes against San Antonio before the next matchup. Finding offensive rhythm against the Spurs’ defense will be crucial to avoiding a season sweep.

Dropping this nugget your way

Q1: How many times have the Thunder lost to the Spurs this season?

The Oklahoma City Thunder have now lost all three games against the San Antonio Spurs this season. This marks a surprising streak for the high-seeded Thunder.

Q2: What was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring total?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored just 22 points, his lowest output of the season. He was held in check by the Spurs’ defensive game plan throughout the night.

Q3: How did the Thunder’s three-point shooting compare to their average?

They shot 25% on threes, hitting 11 of 44. This was far below their season average of 37.3%, which ranks fifth in the league.

Q4: Did the Thunder win any key statistical battles?

Yes, they won the turnover battle and had more offensive rebounds and blocks. Their loss was primarily due to an uncharacteristically poor shooting performance.

Q5: How did Victor Wembanyama impact the game?

Wembanyama’s rim protection forced the Thunder to settle for outside shots. This played directly into the Thunder’s weakness on this particular night.