Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder roll past Spurs 116-104 in first matchup since conference finals defeat

San Antonio Spurs suffered a 116-104 defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder in their first game since being eliminated from title defense last season, according to AP reports. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 32 points. Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs' star, contributed 12 points but struggled from the field, going 1 for 13.

Jared McCain added 20 points on 6 of 8 three-pointers as Oklahoma City led throughout most of the game. The Spurs and Thunder previously faced off in a Western Conference Finals Game 7 on May 30, with the Spurs prevailing 111-103. The rivalry remained intense, with two players involved in a heated exchange during the game. Fox received a Flagrant Foul 1 for a body slam on Chet Holmgren, leading to a massive scrum involving multiple players.

Wembanyama, Williams, Jalen Williams, and Kenrich Williams all received technical fouls for the altercation. Oklahoma City capitalized on the chaos with a 9-0 run, extending their lead to 59-33 by halftime. The Spurs staged a remarkable comeback in the second half, scoring 23 points over the final 11 minutes. Gilgeous-Alexander and McCain made key contributions, combining for 25 points in the second half as the Thunder secured a commanding 31-16 victory at the half.