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Spurs Seek Season Sweep of Thunder as Wembanyama Returns to Starting Role

Victor Wembanyama’s restored starting role elevates focus on the defensive presence that has troubled Oklahoma City.

Overview

  • San Antonio enters Tuesday’s fourth meeting having won the previous three, including the NBA Cup semifinal and double-digit victories on Dec. 23 and Dec. 25.
  • Oklahoma City sits first in the West at 33-7 and rides a three-game winning streak, while San Antonio is second at 27-12 heading into Paycom Center.
  • Wembanyama started for the first time since Dec. 31 on Sunday and posted 29 points in 27 minutes, with coach Mitch Johnson indicating his minutes are rising.
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander acknowledged the Spurs have “gotten the better” of OKC recently and said the Thunder must do the necessary things to win.
  • Per recent analyses and team data, OKC has struggled from three against San Antonio (28.8% across the three losses), and both teams list key absences: Devin Vassell for the Spurs, Isaiah Hartenstein, Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber for the Thunder.