At 24-1 just a few weeks ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder looked every bit like the unstoppable force many predicted would rewrite the NBA record books this season. They matched the best start in league history, sitting on pace with legendary teams and carrying the confidence of returning champions.
SGA Gives Honest Assessment After Another Thunder Loss To Spurs
But the past week-plus has offered a humbling reminder that even the most dominant teams can hit a wall, especially when they face a tough matchup. After four losses in six games, three to the San Antonio Spurs, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s recent quote summed up the moment perfectly: “You don’t lose to a team three times in a row … without them being better than you.”
It is a recognition of reality. The Spurs have figured out something about the Thunder that no other team has managed yet in the 2025-26 season. San Antonio’s defense, timely execution and ability to disrupt OKC’s rhythm have turned this once-rising narrative into a short-term skid. The Spurs’ Christmas Day victory, a convincing 117-102 win, marked the Thunder’s third defeat to San Antonio this season, and perhaps the most telling performance of all.
What makes this stretch notable isn’t just the losses themselves, but the context. Two of those defeats came in tightly contested games, including a narrow 111-109 NBA Cup loss in Las Vegas. The consistency of San Antonio’s approach suggests matchup issues rather than randomness, which bodes well for the Spurs’ chances in a potential postseason run.
"You don't lose to a team, three times in a row … without them being better than you." – Shai on the Spurs pic.twitter.com/GXfO3p0qUL
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 26, 2025
For Oklahoma City, this skid raises real questions. Are the losses a blip in a historic season, or a signal that this version of the Thunder isn’t invincible? Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance has once again been on an MVP-level, but even he has been unable to overcome the strategic disadvantages against the Spurs.
There are two more meetings scheduled between the Spurs and Thunder this season. The first will come on January 13th, which will be the fourth matchup between the two sides in the span of a month. The final meeting will be in early February.
