It has been too long since we’ve seen a Thunder-Spurs rivalry emerge. For years, both teams struggled to stay competitive. Oklahoma City later burst into contender status with its title win last year. This year, however, it seems that San Antonio is catching up. The Thunder and Spurs headline the NBA’s Christmas Day lineup, but what should fans expect in this budding rivalry showdown?
It’s safe to say that this is the latest installment in the rivalry between the two teams. They’ve been warring over the Western Conference in the 2010s. During that time, San Antonio earned a title while OKC secured a Finals appearance. In this new era of basketball, it seems that we are finally back with a renewed feud.
Calm Before the Storm: Thunder vs Spurs Christmas Preview
If anything, the NBA scriptwriters surely pulled off a blazing success with this scheduling. It’s definitely rare to see a rising rivalry to appear on Christmas Day. Sure, you’ve got some big names playing in the same day, but nothing beats putting the best team in the NBA and the second seed in the West for a third installment of a brewing war. OKC vs. SAS is a spectacle to watch.
The Spurs Have OKC Figured Out
Remember when Ja Morant said that he and the Memphis Grizzlies had OKC figured out in the 2025 Playoffs? Well, it does seem that the Spurs themselves have it all figured out against Oklahoma City. In their first meeting, it was the Victor Wembanyama factor that played a huge role in crushing OKC down to the finish.
In the second game, it was the athletic guys who proved their worth. Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, and Harrison Barnes all stepped up to lead the team in scoring. To make it even better, Keldon Johnson stole the spotlight off the bench as the Spurs handed the Thunder its first double-digit loss of the season. It does seem that San Antonio has everything right against OKC.
Spurs vs Thunder for the next Decade🍿 pic.twitter.com/0hY3D4Qt1m
— Coach Pop Muse (@CoachPopMuse) December 24, 2025
So, what to expect in the Christmas showdown? The Spurs have elite finishers at the rim, which negates everything that Oklahoma City has on defense. The fact that they also have athletic guards, and the same (or even more) length than the Thunder, say a lot about how this is a perfect matchup.
The Thunder are Built Different at Home
Despite all those flaws that the Thunder have in playing the Spurs, it doesn’t change the fact that they are the defending champions. The Thunder are currently undefeated at home with a 14-0 record (the Cup loss doesn’t actually count as a game played in Paycom Center). They are a dominant bunch in front of their home crowd, as we have seen for most of the postseason.
In fact, OKC has a differential of 17.9 points in home wins. That’s a stunning margin of victory against the rest of the league so far, and that says a lot about their performance at home. Remember, the Thunder only lost twice at home in the 2025 playoffs, which is a stunning advantage to begin with. This upcoming Thunder vs Spurs showdown shouldn’t be any different.
OKC Thunder will go for a franchise record on Christmas Day against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs
The win against Memphis is the 14th consecutive home win, tying a franchise record#ThunderUp https://t.co/DwS5qoN4W1
— Ryan Barclay (@RyanBarcSports) December 23, 2025
If anything, this just means that we can expect some bigger games from Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, whose performances have been poor against the Spurs. Sure, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains consistent with his level of play, but he needs the rest to step up if they are going to win.
The fact that the OKC starting five from last season is 0-3 this season can be quite alarming. We all know that the Thunder can rely on their bench. They do, after all, boast one of the deepest rosters in the league. Expect these bench players to step up in the Christmas game against San Antonio.
Setting Expectations for Thunder vs Spurs Christmas Edition
We’ve seen how the last two games for OKC vs. SAS have turned out. The first was a close battle, while the second one was a convincing finish. At this point, it’s a must to watch the Christmas game between these two teams.
NBA scheduling Thunder vs Spurs on Christmas Day. pic.twitter.com/XctjANmZdK
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) December 14, 2025
If anything, this Thunder vs. Spurs showdown is going down as a huge battle in the long run. These teams are young and hungry, filled with budding stars. They are going to run the Western Conference as they have done in the past few years, and that says a lot about this upcoming matchup.
By the numbers, OKC is a betting favorite at -9.5 on the spread. But we have seen how the odds have been beaten by the Spurs in the last two games. In fact, it’s hard to predict anything other than a close fight between these two squads. That’s why you should not miss out on the game and find out who will have the last word on Christmas Day.
© Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
