OKC Thunder Strikes Daily

December 14, 2025 • Sports

Hosted by Big Dill

About This Episode

Generated sports podcast with host Big Dill based on prompt: I want to hear daily OKC Thunder news. If they played a game then give me the highlights.

Transcript

Welcome back to Big Dill Sports! I'm Dillon, and you’re listening to "OKC Thunder Strikes Daily." Today, we’re diving into an epic showdown from December 13, 2025, where the San Antonio Spurs snapped the Oklahoma City Thunder’s incredible 16-game winning streak in a nail-biter, 111 to 109, at the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas.

Let's start with the first half. The Thunder came out blazing, taking a powerful 31–20 lead in the first quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was on fire, alongside some dazzling teamwork that kept the Spurs on their toes. But San Antonio had their own game plan. The second quarter saw Devin Vassell and De’Aaron Fox stepping up, cutting OKC's lead to a mere three points by halftime.

San Antonio’s Isaiah Hartenstein also made waves early, pulling in crucial rebounds to keep the Spurs in the hunt. Even without Victor Wembanyama initially, they stayed competitive.

As the second half unfolded, the intensity cranked up. The Spurs stunned the crowd with a 10-0 run, flipping the score and energizing their fans chanting “M-V-P” for Wembanyama. The Thunder battled back, but the Spurs' depth made it tough to close the gap. The highlight came with Devin Vassell’s pivotal three-pointer, pushing Oklahoma City to its limits in the final moments. Despite Shai’s 11 points in the fourth quarter, the Thunder couldn’t quite clinch it.

Player highlights, anyone? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again proved why he’s the backbone of the Thunder, racking up 29 points with precision. Rookie Chet Holmgren impressed with 17 points, including a chilling transition three-pointer. Jalen Williams contributed significantly, too.

For the Spurs, Wembanyama’s return was nothing short of spectacular. He dazzled with 22 points in just 21 minutes, proving his prowess even under a strict minutes restriction. Devin Vassell and De’Aaron Fox added extra firepower, tipping the scales in San Antonio’s favor.

Every game has its unforgettable plays, and this one was no different. Luguentz Dort kicked things off with a franchise-record 25-foot three-pointer, and Hartenstein stunned with not one but two alley-oop dunks. In the clutch moments of the third quarter, Holmgren’s deep three was a standout, and in the dying moments, Stephon Castle's driving layup and Vassell’s corner triple sealed the deal.

What’s next for OKC? This loss closes a chapter on their NBA Cup run, but let's not forget their astonishing 24–2 record, just a step behind the legendary Warriors' start back in 2015-16. Up next, they’re gearing up to face the Los Angeles Clippers at home. Coach Mark Daigneault sees this as a learning moment—expect OKC to come back swinging with renewed vigor.

And now, it's time for my favorite part of the show, where we pick our ‘big dill’ of the game. No surprises here: Victor Wembanyama is today’s big dill. His impact in limited minutes was game-changing, and you’ve got to tip your hat to such a comeback performance.

That’s all for today's episode of "OKC Thunder Strikes Daily." Keep your eyes on the Thunder as they charge forward. Thanks for tuning in to Big Dill Sports. Catch you next time!

## Game Overview
On December 13, 2025, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s impressive 16-game winning streak came to an abrupt halt in Las Vegas, as the San Antonio Spurs edged out OKC 111–109 in the NBA Cup semifinals at T-Mobile Arena. Victor Wembanyama made a triumphant return from a 12-game absence, pouring in 22 points and grabbing nine rebounds to lift San Antonio into the NBA Cup title game. The loss marked only the Thunder’s second defeat of the season, dropping their record to 24–2 and ending their bid for repeat NBA Cup glory.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401809838))([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401809838))

## First Half Recap
The Thunder stormed out of the gates, posting a blistering 31–20 advantage in the first quarter, keyed by early buckets from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a patented stretch of offensive ball movement that left the Spurs scrambling defensively. However, San Antonio countered in the second quarter, outscoring OKC 26–18 behind Devin Vassell’s slashing drives and De’Aaron Fox’s midrange precision, cutting the Thunder’s lead to three points at intermission (49–46). Despite the Spurs’ absence of Wembanyama during the early stages, center Isaiah Hartenstein made his presence felt on the glass, securing five first-half rebounds to help San Antonio stay within striking distance.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401809838))([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401809838))

## Second Half and Clutch Moments
The back-and-forth contest intensified after halftime. The Spurs opened the third quarter with a 10–0 run, propelling them to a 62–56 advantage and flipping the momentum in front of a raucous crowd chanting “M-V-P” whenever Wembanyama operated in the paint. Oklahoma City fought back valiantly, trimming the deficit to one possession multiple times, but San Antonio’s depth proved decisive. In the fourth quarter, the Spurs outpaced the Thunder 33–32, with key transition buckets from Stephon Castle and a critical three-pointer from Devin Vassell that forced OKC to foul in the final minute. Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 11 fourth-quarter points, the Thunder came up just short as San Antonio sealed the 111–109 victory.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401809838))([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401809838))

## Player Statistics and Key Performances
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again led the Thunder’s charge with 29 points on efficient 11-of-20 shooting, adding six assists and four rebounds. Rookie phenom Chet Holmgren contributed 17 points (7-of-15 FG), seven rebounds, and two blocks, showing his growing poise on both ends of the floor. Jalen Williams also chipped in 17 points and four assists, hitting 5 of his 12 attempts from long range and maintaining his reputation as OKC’s Swiss-army knife. For the Spurs, Wembanyama’s comeback was nothing short of spectacular: he scored 22 points in just 21 minutes (10-of-14 FG) and hauled in nine rebounds, posting a +21 plus-minus rating while under a strict minutes restriction. Teammates Devin Vassell (23 points) and De’Aaron Fox (22 points) provided additional scoring bursts that ultimately tipped the balance.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401809838))([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401809838))

## Highlighted Plays and Turning Points
Several individual highlights stood out in the tightly contested matchup:
- Early in the first quarter, Luguentz Dort drained a franchise-record 25-foot three-pointer to energize the Thunder faithful.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/playbyplay/_/gameId/401809838?utm_source=openai))
- Spurs’ center Isaiah Hartenstein converted two alley-oop dunks in the second quarter, each time with pinpoint feeds from Jalen Williams and Luguentz Dort, demonstrating San Antonio’s assertive interior play.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/playbyplay/_/gameId/401809838?utm_source=openai))
- Chet Holmgren’s 24-foot transition three in the third quarter pushed the Spurs’ lead to six, silencing the Thunder’s momentum and showcasing his deep shooting range.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/playbyplay/_/gameId/401809838?utm_source=openai))
- In the final minutes, an acrobatic driving layup by Stephon Castle and a corner triple from Devin Vassell forced Oklahoma City into a critical timeout down two, setting up the defensive stand that preserved the Spurs’ slim lead.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/playbyplay/_/gameId/401809838?utm_source=openai))

## Implications and Next Steps
The defeat ends Oklahoma City’s historic run through the NBA Cup semifinals but underlines the Thunder’s status as one of the league’s elite teams with a 24–2 mark, trailing only the Golden State Warriors’ 25–1 start from the 2015–16 season. OKC now shifts focus back to the regular season, hosting the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night in what promises to be a marquee Western Conference showdown. Despite the sting of falling short in Vegas, head coach Mark Daigneault emphasized the learning opportunity presented by such a narrow loss in a high-stakes environment, expecting his young roster to respond with increased intensity and resilience on home court. Fans and analysts alike will watch closely as the Thunder aim to regain momentum and resume their pursuit of an NBA championship.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401809838))([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/id/401809838))

OKC Thunder Strikes Daily