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San Antonio vs. Oklahoma City, Final Score: Spurs get scorched by SGA and Thunder’s hot shooting, 140-114

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San Antonio vs. Oklahoma City, Final Score: Spurs get scorched by SGA and Thunder’s hot shooting, 140-114


Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 32 points, 10 assists, and two steals (his 32nd game of 30+ points this season) for the Oklahoma City Thunder in an overpowering win over the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs kept pace for the first half but got outscored 37-24 in the third quarter and never had the firepower to climb back.

The Thunder (31-13) remain atop the Western Conference and look to maintain their hot shooting the rest of the season. Aaron Wiggins helped out with 22 points off the bench. Chet Holmgren also chipped in 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists, a steal, and three blocks.

The Spurs (8-36) were led by Victor Wembanyama with 24 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, a steal and four blocks. Devin Vassell also put up 21 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and a block. As a team, the Spurs could not match the hot shooting of OKC from three (18-40) as they could only shoot 9-32 from three. Their defense got carved up inside and out, and could not get stops no matter if they were playing zone or man defense.

San Antonio has the Portland Trail Blazers coming into town Friday, January 26th at 8:30 P.M. (CST) on NBATV/Bally.

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Observations:

  • This is the second meeting between the Spurs and Thunder, and the second time Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren will go head-to-head. Last time on November 14th, 2023, both Wembanyama and Holmgren gave poor shooting performances. Wembanyama had eight points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks while shooting 4-15 from the field. Holmgren had nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block while shooting 3-10 from the field. Both rookies are fighting for Rookie of the Year and both look to make a statement tonight!
  • Spurs are wearing their City Edition jerseys again. You love to see it!
  • Tre Jones is out due to his ankle injury from the 76ers game the other night. Gregg Popovich elects to finally start Blake Wesley for the first time this season. Spurs fans are already in love with the defensive prowess he brings off the bench, and he looks to give Shai Gilgeous-Alexander some fits.
  • Wembanyama strikes first for the Spurs by using a spin move on Holmgren. Thunder leads 5-2 early in the first quarter.
  • At the first timeout break (6:49 left in the first), OKC leads 15-14 with exciting moments from Devin Vassell and Blake Wesley. Wesley looks aggressive on offense with a three-pointer and cutter to the basket. Devin had a slam on a fastbreak thanks to a Wesley feed!
  • Wembanyama checks out of the game with 6:06 left in the first, Pop said his minutes’ restriction was raised to 30 minutes before the game.
  • KELDON JOHNSON FASTBREAK SLAM ALERT! Spurs lead 20-19 with 4:04 left in the first.
  • Spurs’ perimeter defense has been abysmal this season, and it showed its ugly head on OKC’s 11-0 run. Thunder lead 30-20 with 2:08 left in the first.
  • At the end of the first quarter, OKC leads 35-28. Keldon had a nice and-one finish and Wesley locked down SGA on the last possession to close out the quarter! Both Wembanyama and Holmgren have seven points on 3-3 shooting. Safe to say more points are coming for both rookies for the rest of the game.
  • OKC cannot seem to miss a jumper no matter the shooter. They open the second quarter on a 7-0 run and lead 42-28 with 9:50 left. Spurs cannot be content with one-and-done possessions on the offensive end.
  • Cedi Osman ends the Thunder’s 11-0 run with a nice and-one.
  • WEMBY’s BLOCK PARTY: Wembanyama swats Holmgren from behind for this third block of the game!
  • Devin finds a sealing Wembanyama from the other side of the court, and Wembanyama finishes the play with a tough basket over Holmgren. OKC leads 47-35 with 7:00 left.
  • Pop winning a Coach’s challenge in the first half? 12-0 run incoming.
  • Again, in case you did not know, OKC has shooters. They’re shooting 10-17 from THREE while the Spurs are shooting 1-10 from three. The only offense that is working for San Antonio seems to be attacking the paint.
  • Spurs run the floppy action to perfection and Doug McDermott knocks down the open three.
  • You’ve got to love Malaki Branham staying active in the passing lane on defense. He stole the ball off of a bad Josh Giddey pass and got to the free-throw line. Speaking of Giddey, he is being booed every time he touches the ball.
  • Jeremy Sochan goes for the poster on Holmgren and proceeds to knee him in the groin… Ouch!
  • At the end of the first half, OKC leads 63-52. In the battle of the rookies, Wembanyama leads the Spurs with 13 points and three blocks. Holmgren has seven points and also has three blocks. If you’re looking for a way for the Spurs to get back in this game, they need to continue to take advantage of the lack of rebounding from OKC and they need to limit OKC’s flamethrower shooting from three (11-22). Also, it wouldn’t hurt to keep the ball moving to increase spacing for more three-point opportunities.
  • SGA is tearing up the Spurs inside and out.
  • WEMBY’S BLOCK PARTY: Wembanyama just snatched that shot attempt by Giddey for his 5th block!
  • Sochan’s foul on Holmgren just ruined another block party highlight by Wembanyama. That would have been all over ESPN’s social media channels. Thunder lead 83-70 with 4:20 left in the third.
  • The Spurs offense has gone cold since Wembanyama left the floor. Tre Jones being out hurts this team’s ball movement. Thunder leads 91-72 with 2:44 left.
  • This entire third quarter is reminding Spurs fans of the dreaded early season third-quarter meltdowns. The Interior defense is failing again. SGA already has 32 points.
  • At the end of the third, OKC leads 100-76. Zach Collins ended the quarter with a nice runner off the glass. OKC outscored SA 37-24 in the quarter, with most of their points coming SGA having a 16-point quarter.
  • WEMBY SLAM! Victor battled Holmgren to the hole and threw it down! Hopefully, that sparks a comeback.
  • Oh my…. if Wembanyama postered Holmgren right there…
  • This Thunder team has outclassed the Spurs when it comes to talent and shooting in every position except center and maybe shooting guard. OKC leads 118-90 with 6:47 left.
  • Wow. Popovich and Mark Daigneault took Wembanyama and Holmgren out of the game with six minutes to go. Blowout mode is engaged.
  • One excruciatingly painful thing to point out in this game is that Chip Engelland (OKC’s shooting coach) was the Spurs’ shooting coach for 17 years. The shooting fans have seen tonight from OKC’s starters and especially their bench is a testament to him. One can only imagine Engelland working with Sochan’s shooting form.
  • Devonte Graham and Sandro Mamukelashvilli sighting!



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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooners 2026 Football Schedule Revealed

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8 hours ago

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December 11, 2025

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Oklahoma Sooners 2026 Football Schedule Revealed


The Oklahoma Sooners are trying to finish the 2025 college football season with a championship run that begins with a first-round playoff matchup with the Alabama Crimson Tide on Dec. 19 in Norman. After a 10-2 season, the Sooners found out during the SEC schedule reveal when they’ll play their 2026 opponents.

New to the SEC schedule this year is a nine-game conference slate. Also, Oklahoma will begin at least a four-year stretch with permanent rivals Texas, Missouri, and Ole Miss.

The Sooners open the season with nonconference matchups against UTEP, Michigan, and New Mexico. Michigan will be breaking in a new head coach after the surprising dismissal of Sherrone Moore.

Oklahoma will go on the road for their first conference game, taking on the defending SEC champion Georgia Bulldogs on Sept. 26. That marks the first time the Sooners will play in Athens for the first time in the history of the program. The Bulldogs own the only win in the series, which came in the infamous 2017 Rose Bowl. If the Sooners were to play the Dawgs in the 2025 College Football Playoff, it would come in the national championship game.

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After the trip to Georgia, Oklahoma will have its only bye week of the season before facing the Texas Longhorns in the Red River Showdown on Oct. 10 in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The Sooners will return home to play the Kentucky Wildcats on Oct. 17. Kentucky will have a first-time head coach in Will Stein, leading the Wildcats to Norman for the first time since 1980.

Then, Oklahoma will go to Starkville to take on former offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Oct. 24 before closing the month welcoming another former assistant in Shane Beamer and the South Carolina Gamecocks on Oct. 31.

Then begins the month that will decide the Sooners’ College Football Playoff fates. They’ll open November with a road trip to the Swamp to take on the Florida Gators on Nov. 7. The last time the Sooners took on the Gators, Oklahoma earned a 55-20 win in the 2020 Alamo Bowl.

The Sooners will then return home on Nov. 14 to take on the Ole Miss Rebels in Norman for the second year in a row. Oklahoma lost a heartbreaker to the Rebels at the end of October, but that gave way to a magical November run that catapulted the Sooners into the College Football Playoff.

After the Rebels come to town, the Sooners will welcome the Texas A&M Aggies on Nov. 21. Texas A&M hasn’t been to Norman since a 41-25 win by Oklahoma. Landry Jones threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns, and Blake Bell ran for two scores out of the Belldozer package.

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The Sooners will then close the season on the road against the Missouri Tigers. The former Big 8 and Big 12 foes have split their two contests as members of the SEC, each team winning at home. Oklahoma owns a decisive 68-25-5 record over the Tigers dating back to 1902.

There will be big expectations for the Sooners coming off of a 10-2 season and a College Football Playoff berth. They’ll bring back a lot of talent from this year’s roster, but 2026 will provide new challenges.

Oklahoma Sooners 2026 Schedule

  • Sept. 5 vs. UT-El Paso Miners in Norman, Okla.
  • Sept. 12 at Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Sept. 19 vs. New Mexico Lobos in Norman, Okla.
  • Sept. 26 at Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Georgia
  • Oct. 3 BYE WEEK
  • Oct. 10 vs. Texas Longhorns in Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas
  • Oct. 17 vs. Kentucky Wildcats in Norman, Okla.
  • Oct. 24 at Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville, Miss.
  • Oct. 31 vs. South Carolina Gamecocks in Norman, Okla.
  • Nov. 7 at Florida Gators in Gainesville, Fla.
  • Nov. 14 vs. Ole Miss Rebels in Norman, Okla.
  • Nov. 21 vs. Texas A&M Aggies in Norman, Okla.
  • Nov. 28 at Missouri Tigers in Columbia, Missouri

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.





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Oklahoma’s Tate Sandell on CFP, Groza Award: ‘This Is What Eighth-Grade Me Dreamed Of’

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20 hours ago

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December 11, 2025

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Oklahoma’s Tate Sandell on CFP, Groza Award: ‘This Is What Eighth-Grade Me Dreamed Of’


NORMAN — To say that Oklahoma’s Tate Sandell has become a legitimate weapon for the College Football Playoff-bound Sooners would be putting it lightly.

The Sooners’ dynamite placekicker has already wrapped up First Team All-SEC honors and Special Teams Player of the Year in the conference.

Now, Sandell hopes to check a few more boxes off his wish list as early as Friday.

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“It’s what me in eighth grade dreamed of in high school,” Sandell said on Wednesday when asked about the season he’s had. “These are all things you think about when you’re lying in bed, like, this is really happening. This is something that you work for, and it’s just such a blessing.​”

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Sandell is 23-of-24 on field goals this season — hitting 23 in a row since he missed his first kick of the season against Michigan. Not only is this consistency a school record at OU, but it’s a single-season record in the SEC as well.

Sandell has had a busy week already. He’s been jetting around the country doing community events for the Lou Groza Award — the coveted trophy that goes the the nation’s best kicker every season. He will find out Friday night if he will take the award home during the Home Depot College Football Awards show (ESPN, 6 p.m.).

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Should Sandell win, he will become the first Sooner kicker to win the award.

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“That’d be great, but it’s not in my hands,” Sandell said. “That’s not what I set out to win this season; it’s just to win games and make kicks, and that’s just a byproduct of our work. If that happens, that’s great.​”

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Sandell is up for the award against Hawaii kicker Kansei Matsuzawa and Georgia Tech’s Aidan Birr. Each kicker has their résumé that demands respect, yet it appears that Sandell is the favorite to win.

The University of Texas-San Antonio transfer did it in big moments in ballyhooed environments. Sandell’s four field goals, where he made three 50-plus yarders — 55, 51 and 55 — was a Neyland Stadium record So was the distance. Oklahoma’s “Red November” run, in large part, was aided by Sandell’s big leg.

“My swing is my swing,” Sandell said. “I’m not going to try to be somebody I’m not or swing like I’m not. I’m not going to swing out of my shoes. I’m going to give myself the best opportunity to make the kick as possible, and if it goes in, great. If it’s not, then it is what it is.​”

“Another guy that’s a team guy, hasn’t flinched,” said head coach Brent Venables. “He’s been Boomer Sooner since the moment he signed his contract. And then he’s been just a stud when it comes to leading and just being a really good teammate.” 

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Oklahoma kicker Tate Sandell | Carson Field, Sooners On SI

Humble he may be, but the Groza Award would be a cherry on top for any college kicker. Still, Sandell’s main focus is on Oklahoma’s rematch with Alabama on Dec. 19.

And yet, Oklahoma’s placekicker is not short on confidence — in himself, or his team.

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“For us, it’s not about who we play,” Sandell said. “If we play our brand of football, we can compete with anybody in the country.​”



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6 Oklahoma Sooners earn AP All-SEC Honors

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1 day ago

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December 10, 2025

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6 Oklahoma Sooners earn AP All-SEC Honors


The Oklahoma Sooners are readying themselves for the most crucial game of the season, and perhaps the Brent Venables era, when they host the Alabama Crimson Tide next Friday in the first round of the College Football Playoff. After a 10-2 season, which included a 6-2 mark in SEC play, six Sooners were named to the AP All-SEC teams.

That comes after 10 Sooners earned 11 All-SEC Honors as voted on by the coaches, and kicker Tate Sandell was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year.

Selected to the first team were Sandell, punter Grayson Miller, and wide receiver Isaiah Sategna.

Sandell has the highest field goal percentage in the conference and has made all seven field goal attempts of 50 yards or more.

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Miller is fourth in the nation, and first in the SEC, in punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Like Sandell, he’s been a special teams weapon for Brent Venables, helping Oklahoma win the field position battle in a number of their wins this season.

Sategna is tied for second in the SEC receptions with 65, yards with 948, and tied for fourth in the conference touchdowns. He’s been a big-play threat for the Sooners, especially in recent weeks. Sategna closed the season with back-to-back 100-yard days, giving him four on the season. He had more than 60 yards receiving in nine of Oklahoma’s last 10 games.

Earning second team honors for the Sooners were linebacker Owen Heinecke, defensive end R Mason Thomas, and defensive tackle Gracen Halton.

Thomas leads the Sooners with 6.5 sacks despite missing the final three games of the regular season, three and a half quarters vs. Tennessee (injury), and a half vs. Auburn (targeting suspension). He’s been a force each of the last two seasons, earning All-SEC second-team honors in 2024, and was a first-team selection as voted on by the league’s coaches this season.

Halton, like Thomas, was a member of Brent Venables first recruiting class in the 2022 cycle. He’s been awesome again this year, recording 3.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, and 31 total tackles. He’s been a force in the middle, making life difficult in the running game and providing an interior pass rush for the Sooners.

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Heinecke has been one of a number of breakout stars for Oklahoma as part of a great linebacker rotation. Heinecke is second on the team in total tackles and tackle for loss, behind only Kip Lewis, and has two sacks to his ledger as well. He’s come up big in key moments for Oklahoma, including the sack and forced fumble against Tennessee, which led to R Mason Thomas’ long touchdown return that changed the momentum of the game, and perhaps the season.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a talented roster and a number of players like Peyton Bowen, Kip Lewis, Eli Bowen, Courtland Guillory, Jaren Kanak, Febechi Nwaiwu, Taylor Wein, and David Stone who deserved inclusion on the All-SEC teams. Even still, six players and a host of players worthy of mention is a great thing for the Sooners as they get set to take on an Alabama Crimson Tide team that earned just three selections to the AP All-SEC teams.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.





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