Wembanyama Returns as Spurs Push NBA’s Best in Cup Semifinal Battle
Saturday night’s clash between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder felt like exactly what the NBA Cup was designed to deliver — a powerhouse meeting a fearless challenger, with everything on the line. The Thunder entered the semifinal carrying the weight of expectations and an almost perfect season, while the Spurs arrived with momentum, belief, and the return of their biggest star.
Oklahoma City had been rolling all year. Fresh off a championship and boasting a stunning 24–1 record, they were once again positioned as the team no one could slow down. The Thunder played with the confidence of a group that expects to win, and early on, that showed. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander set the tone right away, slicing through the Spurs’ defense and piling up points with ease as OKC jumped out to an early double-digit lead.
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San Antonio, meanwhile, looked shaky at first. Shots weren’t falling, especially from beyond the arc, and Victor Wembanyama remained on the bench throughout the entire first quarter. With their star sidelined, the Spurs struggled to keep pace, trailing by 11 at the end of the opening frame. Yet even then, the game felt closer than the score suggested.
Everything shifted when Wembanyama finally checked in early in the second quarter. His impact was immediate and unmistakable. Missed shots turned into putbacks, passing lanes suddenly vanished for OKC, and the Spurs’ energy level noticeably rose. It was as if the floor itself had changed shape. A team that looked overwhelmed moments earlier began stringing together stops and runs, cutting into the Thunder’s lead in a matter of minutes.
By halftime, Oklahoma City still led, but only by three. Wembanyama had played limited minutes, yet San Antonio had outscored the Thunder decisively when he was on the floor. His three-pointer to cap a late run brought the crowd to life and served as a reminder of how dramatically he alters the game on both ends.
The Thunder remained composed, leaning on their depth and discipline. Chet Holmgren battled inside, and Gilgeous-Alexander continued to lead the scoring, refusing to let the moment slip away. Still, the Spurs had turned what many expected to be a runaway into a genuine contest.
Beyond the scoreboard, this matchup symbolized the NBA’s present colliding with its future. The Thunder represented dominance and consistency, while the Spurs showed how quickly things can change when a generational talent steps back onto the court. Whether or not San Antonio completed the upset, one thing was made clear: with Wembanyama healthy again, the Spurs are no longer just a rebuilding team — they are a real threat, even against the league’s very best.
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