Sports · NEWS EXPLAINER
Thunder beat Spurs 116–104 after 21-point halftime lead survives late rally
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points and Oklahoma City made 10 first-half three-pointers before holding off San Antonio in the 2026–27 opener.
The Oklahoma City Thunder opened the 2026–27 season with a 116–104 road win over the San Antonio Spurs on October 20, turning a 21-point halftime advantage into a controlled response to San Antonio’s second-half rally.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 32 points. Jared McCain added 20 and matched his career high with six three-pointers, while Stephon Castle scored 24 for San Antonio.
The first half created the winning margin
Oklahoma City scored 34 points in the first quarter and 31 in the second, taking a 65–44 lead into halftime. Reuters reported that the Thunder went 10-for-14 from beyond the arc before the break; the NBA game page confirms the final score and the completed box score.
San Antonio’s rally changed the pressure, not the result
The Spurs outscored Oklahoma City 36–28 in the third quarter and got within seven points in both the third and fourth. Castle’s three-pointer made it 106–99 with 4:18 remaining, but the Thunder answered down the stretch and never surrendered the lead.
Gilgeous-Alexander and McCain supplied the scoring
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points to lead all players. McCain added 20 and hit six three-pointers, matching his career high. Chet Holmgren scored 14 and Jalen Williams had 12, giving Oklahoma City four players in double figures.
Wembanyama affected the game despite a poor shooting night
Wembanyama finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks but made only one of 13 field-goal attempts. His defense remained productive, while Castle’s 24 points and Dylan Harper’s 18 carried more of San Antonio’s scoring load.
What this opener establishes—and what it does not
The result gives Oklahoma City a 1–0 start and San Antonio an 0–1 start. One game can show the value of the Thunder’s early shooting and late composure, but it cannot establish a season-long trend for either team or for Wembanyama’s offense.
