Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder opened their 2026-27 NBA season with a 116-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, earning a measure of revenge against the team that ended their title defense in last season’s Western Conference Finals.
Jared McCain added 20 points, shooting 6-for-8 from three-point range, as Oklahoma City led for all but the opening five minutes at Frost Bank Center. Chet Holmgren contributed 14 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, while Cason Wallace finished with nine points and six rebounds.
The Spurs eliminated the Thunder with a 111-103 victory in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on May 30 in Oklahoma City. Nearly five months later, the rivalry showed little sign of cooling.
San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama endured a difficult shooting night, finishing with 12 points and 13 rebounds while making just one of 13 field-goal attempts. His only made field goal came on an alley-oop from De’Aaron Fox as the third quarter expired. Wembanyama also recorded six blocks but missed his first 12 shots, including an alley-oop attempt blocked by Thunder rookie Aday Mara.
Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 24 points, while rookie Dylan Harper scored 18. Fox added 14 points and seven assists.
The game’s most heated sequence came early in the second quarter, when Fox received a Flagrant 1 foul for throwing Holmgren to the floor after the two became entangled in the paint. The incident sparked a confrontation involving Wembanyama and Jaylin Williams, who had to be separated after pushing each other. Wembanyama, Jaylin Williams, Jalen Williams and Kenrich Williams each received technical fouls.
Oklahoma City responded with a 9-0 run, then scored 13 consecutive points after Harrison Barnes briefly stopped the first surge with a three-pointer. Wallace capped the second run from beyond the arc, extending the Thunder’s lead to 59-33.
The Thunder outscored San Antonio 31-16 in the second quarter and took a 65-44 advantage into halftime.
The Spurs fought back after the break, opening the third quarter with a 23-9 run to cut a 26-point deficit to single digits. However, Gilgeous-Alexander and McCain combined for 25 points in the second half to keep Oklahoma City ahead.
The Thunder will host the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, while San Antonio welcomes the Houston Rockets in Austin on Friday.
