OKC Thunder Strikes Daily

December 24, 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, your host with the most, diving into the latest scoop on everything OKC Thunder. Today, we're breaking down a tough night for the Thunder in San Antonio. So settle in as we unravel what went down at Frost Bank Center.

On Tuesday night, December 23rd, the Thunder faced off against the Spurs and, well, let’s just say things didn’t quite go as planned. We took a hefty hit, falling 130–110, marking the most lopsided loss of the season. Despite this stumble, OKC's record stands strong at 26–4. But, it’s always about the lessons we take away, right?

Let's jump into the quarter-by-quarter breakdown. The Thunder opened with some real spark, grabbing a slim lead of 31–29 in the first quarter, thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams laying down early buckets. Then, the Spurs fired back in the second, nudging ahead 60–58 at halftime. The third quarter was a nail-biter, but San Antonio pulled ahead, ending with an 87–82 lead. The fourth? Well, San Antonio erupted. They scored 43 points to our 28, sealing the deal with a crucial 16–4 run.

Diving into key performances, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a force, leading with 33 points and shooting 14-of-22. He kept his stats impressive, adding 4 rebounds and 3 assists, but the Spurs' defense did make him work for it. Jalen Williams also showed up with 17 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds. However, his jumper hit a snag in the final quarter, struggling a bit from deep.

OKC's shooting wasn’t shabby, hitting 54 percent from the field, and a solid 40 percent from beyond the arc. But turnovers told a different story—15 mishaps gave the Spurs 20 easy points. We did win the rebound battle 36–34 but were out-assisted 34–23, which is something we've got to sharpen up.

The pivotal moment was early in the fourth. It all unraveled during a 16–4 Spurs run. Our defense couldn't hold, and San Antonio's bench, especially Dylan Harper with his season-high five steals and 10 assists, put the brakes on our transition game. A memorable moment? Victor Wembanyama’s 26-footer over Alex Caruso that was like a dagger to our comeback hopes.

Postgame, Coach Mark Daigneault kept his cool, and rather than delving into officiating issues, he highlighted the need to fix our ball security and defensive lapses. GM Sam Presti emphasized these as "controllable errors," urging the team to refocus before the Christmas Day rematch.

The loss didn’t shake our standing too much. We’re still topping the Western Conference, sitting 4.5 games ahead of Denver. Up next? A chance for redemption against the Spurs at home. Mark your calendars for Christmas Day as we look to bounce back and send a message at the Paycom Center.

Time for our 'big dill' spotlight—drumroll, please—it goes to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Despite the tough night, his consistent scoring and leadership earned him the nod. He's truly a big deal for this Thunder team.

That wraps it up for today’s episode of OKC Thunder Strikes Daily here on Big Dill Sports. Thanks for tuning in, and remember, even in a storm, we find our footing and come back stronger. Catch you next time, and as always, keep it fresh and keep it real.

Oklahoma City’s Road Woes Continue in San Antonio
On Tuesday night, December 23, 2025, the Oklahoma City Thunder fell 130–110 to the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center, enduring their most lopsided loss of the season. With the defeat, Oklahoma City dropped to 26–4 overall and 12–3 on the road, while the Spurs improved to 22–7 and extended their winning streak to seven games ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401810272)). Attendance was 19,133 in San Antonio, where the defending champions saw their deficit briefly reach 21 points in the fourth quarter ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/matchup/_/gameId/401810272)).

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
– 1st Quarter: Thunder opened strong with a 29–31 edge, paced by early baskets from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.
– 2nd Quarter: San Antonio responded, outscoring OKC 27–31 to take a slim 58–60 lead into halftime.
– 3rd Quarter: The contest remained tight, with the Spurs eking out a 29–22 advantage, entering the final frame ahead 87–82.
– 4th Quarter: San Antonio erupted for 43 points while holding Oklahoma City to 28, including a game-sealing 16–4 run midway through the quarter ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401810272)).

Key Performances and Statistical Highlights
– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 33 points on 14-of-22 shooting, adding four free throws. He also notched 4 rebounds and 3 assists but saw his 100-game streak of 20-point performances come under pressure as the Spurs’ defense intensified ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401810272)).
– Jalen Williams contributed 17 points (8-of-18 FG), 8 assists, 6 rebounds and 2 steals, though he struggled with his jumper (1-of-4 from deep) in the fourth quarter collapse ([sports.yahoo.com](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/player-grades-same-mistakes-thunder-052818497.html?utm_source=openai)).
– Oklahoma City shot a respectable 54 percent from the field and 40 percent from three (12-of-30), but committed 15 turnovers, leading to 20 Spurs points off miscues. The Thunder outrebounded San Antonio 36–34 but were out-assisted 34–23 ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/matchup/_/gameId/401810272)).

Turning Points and Game-Changing Runs
The defining stretch came early in the fourth quarter. Trailing by just five points at 92–87 with 8:30 remaining, OKC was blitzed by a 16–4 Spurs run over the next 4:45, turning the deficit into a 105–92 hole from which the Thunder never recovered ([expressnews.com](https://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/thunder-keldon-johnson-shai-gilgeous-alexander-21260248.php?utm_source=openai)). San Antonio’s bench production, led by Dylan Harper’s season-high five steals and 10 assists, stymied Oklahoma City’s transition opportunities, while Victor Wembanyama’s 26-foot 3-pointer over Alex Caruso punctuated the run ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401810272)).

Postgame Reactions and Analysis
Head coach Mark Daigneault offered measured remarks when asked about a potential late-game foul on Alex Caruso, quipping “I don’t know, maybe,” before swiftly redirecting focus to his team’s performance rather than officiating ([clutchpoints.com](https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-did-alex-caruso-get-fouled-last-play-vs-spurs-heres-mark-daigneault-said?utm_source=openai)). GM Sam Presti underscored that the loss exposed “controllable errors” in ball security and defensive rotations that must be addressed before the Christmas Day rematch. Observers noted the Thunder’s rare breakdown, as Oklahoma City had suffered just three losses by more than five points all season entering Tuesday ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401810272)).

Standings Impact and Christmas Day Outlook
The defeat halted Oklahoma City’s two-game recovery after losses to Minnesota and San Antonio in the NBA Cup semifinals, leaving the Thunder with losses in three of their last six contests after a blistering 24–1 start ([]()). Still, OKC remains atop the Western Conference at 26–4, 4.5 games clear of Denver. Next up is a Christmas Day home rematch against San Antonio at Paycom Center on Thursday, December 25 (ABC/ESPN, 2:00 PM ET), where the Thunder will seek revenge and regain momentum heading into the New Year ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401810272)).

OKC Thunder Strikes Daily