De’Aaron Fox led the San Antonio Spurs to a 117-102 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder with a stellar 29-point performance. This win marked the Spurs’ third triumph over the reigning NBA champions in a span of two weeks. The Spurs had previously defeated the Thunder in an NBA Cup semifinal on Dec. 13 and in a game in San Antonio on Tuesday. The two teams are scheduled to face each other again on Jan. 13 in Oklahoma City.
Victor Wembanyama contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Stephon Castle added 19 points and seven assists for the Spurs, who shot an impressive 53.6% from the field and limited the Thunder to 38.9% shooting. San Antonio’s victory extended their winning streak to eight games, while it was only the Thunder’s second loss at home this season. Oklahoma City, previously leading the Western Conference standings, now sits behind the Spurs in second place.
Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 22-point effort for the Thunder, the reigning league MVP struggled with his field goal shooting, making just 7 of 19 attempts. However, he managed to extend his streak of scoring at least 20 points in 102 consecutive games. Isaiah Hartenstein recorded 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Chet Holmgren added 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder.
Oklahoma City had a strong start, making their first seven field goals to take an 18-12 lead. Nevertheless, De’Aaron Fox’s 21 first-half points helped the Spurs stage a comeback, leading San Antonio to a 69-60 advantage at halftime. The Spurs continued to dominate, extending their lead to 85-68 in the third quarter and eventually securing a comfortable 117-102 win.
In other NBA Christmas Day action, the New York Knicks rallied from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-124, marking their third consecutive Christmas Day victory. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 34 points, supported by Jordan Clarkson’s 25 points off the bench.
Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic’s historic performance propelled the Denver Nuggets to a thrilling 142-138 overtime victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jokic’s 56-point triple-double, including an NBA-record 18 points in overtime, overshadowed Anthony Edwards’ 44-point effort for the Wolves.
The Golden State Warriors secured a 126-116 win over the Dallas Mavericks, with Stephen Curry contributing 23 points and Jimmy Butler adding 14 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds. Cooper Flagg impressed for the Mavericks with 27 points in his Christmas Day debut.
Lastly, the Houston Rockets outplayed the Los Angeles Lakers 119-96, led by Amen Thompson’s 26-point performance. Kevin Durant chipped in with 25 points to help the Rockets snap a two-game losing streak. Despite efforts from Luka Doncic and LeBron James, the Lakers suffered their third consecutive loss.