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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made an emphatic statement to open the new season, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a convincing 116-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The reigning two-time MVP delivered 32 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks, giving Oklahoma City the two-way production it needed to control the game.
However, SGA wasn’t the only Thunder player making an impact. Jared McCain caught fire from beyond the arc, drilling six three-pointers on his way to 20 points, while Alex Caruso delivered a superb defensive performance off the bench. Chet Holmgren also contributed four blocks, helping Oklahoma City challenge San Antonio around the rim.
The Thunder shot 45.3% from the field and an impressive 45.2% from three, compared to the Spurs’ 39.1% shooting overall and 27.0% from deep. Oklahoma City also built a 26-point lead and never seriously surrendered control, despite San Antonio scoring 31 fast-break points.
Victor Wembanyama had a brutal shooting night, finishing with 12 points on 1-13 shooting, although he still collected 13 rebounds and six blocks. Also, Stephon Castle scored 24 points, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Spurs from falling short.
Here are the Thunder player ratings from an impressive win.
Game Stats: 32 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 2 TOV, 13-27 FG, 3-7 3-PT FG, 3-4 FT, 36 MIN
This was an MVP-caliber performance from Gilgeous-Alexander. He poured in 32 points on 13-27 shooting, knocked down three three-pointers, and added five combined steals and blocks. His scoring gave the Thunder a reliable bail-out, while his defensive activity made him a factor as well.
SGA wasn’t perfectly efficient, and four assists show he wasn’t orchestrating a massive playmaking night. But he didn’t need to do everything. He consistently carried the scoring load, made his presence felt defensively, and helped Oklahoma City establish control over a talented Spurs team.
Shai stamped his name to start the season when it comes to the MVP conversation for sure.
Game Stats: 20 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 2 TOV, 7-9 FG, 6-8 3-PT FG, 22 MIN
McCain was the Thunder’s biggest spark off the bench, erupting for 20 points on 7-9 shooting and burying six of his eight three-point attempts. He added two rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 22 minutes, finishing with a team-best plus-20.
Six made threes in just 22 minutes is the kind of shooting performance that can break open a game. Whenever San Antonio needed a stop to prevent Oklahoma City from pulling further away, McCain’s perimeter shooting made the Thunder even more difficult to contain.
His performance also gave Oklahoma City another dangerous scoring option beyond Gilgeous-Alexander. If McCain can provide this kind of instant offense consistently, he could become a valuable weapon in the Thunder’s rotation.
Game Stats: 9 PTS, 7 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 3-4 FG, 2-2 3-PT FG, 1-2 FT, 25 MIN
Caruso was outstanding in a supporting role, delivering nine points, seven rebounds, two steals, and two made three-pointers without committing a turnover. He shot 3-4 from the field and finished with a team-best plus-16 among the Thunder’s starters and rotation players listed here.
Caruso’s value goes beyond his scoring. His defensive instincts, hustle, and ability to make winning plays helped Oklahoma City turn a strong performance into a commanding victory. He was exactly the type of complementary player a championship contender needs.
Game Stats: 14 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST, 4 BLK, 1 TOV, 3-8 FG, 0-1 3-PT FG, 8-8 FT, 31 MIN
Holmgren was a major defensive factor, recording 14 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks. He also went a perfect 8-8 from the free-throw line, helping him make up for a quiet night from the field. His rim protection was especially valuable against a Spurs team that finished with 48 points in the paint.
The four blocks tell only part of the story. Holmgren’s presence made San Antonio work for its opportunities around the basket, and his ability to contribute offensively without forcing shots helped Oklahoma City maintain its balance.
Game Stats: 7 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 1 BLK, 1 TOV, 3-4 FG, 1-2 FT, 12 MIN
Mara made the most of his limited opportunities, scoring seven points on an efficient 3-4 shooting while adding two rebounds and a block in 12 minutes. He wasn’t asked to do much, but his ability to finish around the basket made him a productive contributor in his brief appearance.
Game Stats: 6 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 TOV, 3-8 FG, 0-4 3-PT FG, 19 MIN
Wallace finished with six points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 19 minutes. His 3-8 shooting wasn’t especially impressive, and he struggled from three-point range, missing all four attempts. Still, he contributed defensively and avoided turning the ball over excessively.
It was a modest performance rather than a standout one, but Wallace did enough in his role while Oklahoma City’s stars and bench supplied the bigger contributions.
Game Stats: 4 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST, 1 TOV, 2-8 FG, 0-1 3-PT FG, 23 MIN
Mitchell delivered a strong all-around performance, recording four points, five rebounds, and six assists in 23 minutes. He also committed just one turnover, helping keep the offense organized while the Thunder’s primary scorers did their damage.
His scoring efficiency wasn’t ideal, but six assists and five rebounds gave Oklahoma City meaningful contributions in areas beyond scoring. Mitchell’s plus-12 reflected how productive his minutes were.
Game Stats: 12 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 5-16 FG, 1-2 3-PT FG, 1-2 FT, 30 MIN
Williams had a relatively quiet offensive night, scoring 12 points on 5-16 shooting. He added seven rebounds and two assists without committing a turnover, but his shooting struggles prevented him from earning a higher grade.
The positive is that Williams still contributed on the glass and played within the team’s overall structure. Oklahoma City didn’t need him to take over with SGA leading the way, but the Thunder will want more consistent efficiency from one of their key offensive weapons.
Game Stats: 3 PTS, 2 REB, 1-1 FG, 1-1 3-PT FG, 7 MIN
Williams played only seven minutes but was perfect from the field, making his lone shot a three-pointer. He added three points and two rebounds without committing a turnover. His role was limited, but he made his opportunities count.
Game Stats: 4 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TOV, 2-4 FG, 17 MIN
Hartenstein didn’t need to score much to make his presence felt. He finished with four points, three rebounds, and three assists in 17 minutes, adding a steal and a block. His five fouls limited his impact, but he still provided useful connective play in a relatively short stint.
Game Stats: 5 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 1 TOV, 1-6 FG, 1-5 3-PT FG, 2-2 FT, 17 MIN
Williams struggled to find his rhythm offensively, scoring five points on 1-6 shooting. He added four rebounds and an assist in 17 minutes, but his one made field goal limited his impact. He did convert both free throws and kept his minutes productive enough to avoid a harsher grade.
Game Stats: 1 MIN
Barnhizer played just one minute and didn’t record a statistic. That’s not enough time to fairly evaluate his performance.
Game Stats: 1 MIN
Stirtz played one minute and didn’t record any statistics, leaving too little evidence for a meaningful rating.
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