Spurs fend off hard-charging Thunder for first NBA Cup win
San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson (0) and Charles Bassey celebrate a basket during the first half of their Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
SAN ANTONIO — Keldon Johnson scored 22 points, Harrison Barnes added 20 and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 110-104 Tuesday night without Victor Wembanyama for their first victory in the Emirates NBA Cup.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 32 points and Jalen Williams added 27 points for Oklahoma City.
Article continues after this advertisementThe Thunder closed the game on a 27-12 run but were unable to score in the final minute.
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STEPH. CASTLE. 😤 pic.twitter.com/zyseLEH3rD
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) November 20, 2024
Spurs rookie Stephon Castle, who had 10 points and eight assists, blocked Gilgeous-Alexander’s layup with 22 seconds remaining and the Spurs leading 110-104.
Article continues after this advertisementSan Antonio’s Chris Paul added 14 points and 11 assists with the veteran point guard tossing in a 3-pointer as the shot clock was expiring to give the Spurs a 107-98 lead with 1:27 remaining.
Wembanyama and Devin Vassell missed their second straight game with leg injuries. Wembanyama is recovering from a bruised knee and Vassell has a sore left knee.
Oklahoma City was without Chet Holmgren, who is expected to miss two months with a fractured hip.
Takeaways
Thunder: After forcing 13 turnovers in the first half, Oklahoma City was only able to add seven more in the second half.
Spurs: Barnes was 3 for 7 on 3-pointers in scoring a season high.
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Key moment
Johnson threw down a one-handed dunk with 1:46 remaining in the first half after a crossover sent his defender tumbling to the court. With the arena buzzing in anticipation 30 seconds later, Johnson reset his feet and drained a 3-pointer to give the Spurs a 58-57 lead. It was part of a 25-3 run spanning the seocnd and third quarters that gave the Spurs a 74-58 lead three minutes into the second half.
Key stat
San Antonio had lost its first five games in the NBA Cup.
Up next
Thunder: Host Portland on Wednesday.
Spurs: Host Utah on Thursday in the second of a three-game homestand.
