Spurs host Thunder in NBA Cup despite missing Victor Wembanyama

(This story was updated with new information.)

SAN ANTONIO — Listen up.

During the ecstatic screams of those inside San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center. Between the exhausted grunts of Jalen Williams, forced to play center for another play. Before the Thunder finally came to life, too little too late in a 110-104 loss to the Spurs on Tuesday night.

There was a faint beep: the heart monitor for OKC’s offense kept only a small pulse. Just enough to hang around, but far from enough to survive.

Its survival kit in Smallville is limited. But it’s been mostly the same this week that OKC has been stranded on this island without centers: Press the ball and enjoy the results.

The 21 turnovers the Thunder forced may confuse some with Tuesday’s result. But seven of those came in the fourth quarter, too late to shave off what was a 21-point deficit with 10 minutes left.

“Just playing harder,” sophomore forward center Jalen Williams said of what needed to change. “It really is. Holding each other accountable the whole game. … I think how we finish the game is the way we want to start the game.”

Without a full roster this season, the Thunder have faced questions about their offense. In the week without Chet Holmgren, it hardly had the staff to deflect these questions. Or shots, really.

Just poor passes. Weak handles. The things OKC’s mischievous group of remaining guards and wings can actually affect. There is no other formula at present.

“It’s been like that in as many games as Chet has been out,” said Alex Caruso, who returned Tuesday after missing three games in the past week. “The times we do well, we play well. The times we don’t, other teams take advantage of that.”

San Antonio’s defense, without Victor Wembanyama, Devin Vassell or Jeremy Sochan, tightened its help. Gilgeous-Alexander (32 points, seven assists) was the lifeline of the Thunder offense. As it gasped and struggled to make just 16 of its season-high 53 3-point attempts, SGA had solutions. Timely catch-and-shoot 3s, signature midrange pull-ups. His effectiveness stood alone.

The Thunder, still unfamiliar with free throws, struggled with inside advantages. And the results from the outside were brutal.

Jalen Williams, who finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds on a career-high 26 shots, missed all six of his outside attempts. He was a minus-17, left to lead offense inside lineups still longing for a recognized center.

Alex Caruso had the chance to make Tuesday’s finish even more interesting. He went 0 for 5 from deep, including the shot in the game’s final seconds. He moved to 7 for 32 from deep on the season.

There was Dort, who may have been OKC’s most timely shooter this season but turned in an untimely 2-for-12 performance on Tuesday.

Adam Flagler, filling in for sharpshooter Isaiah Joe, went 1-for-8 from the field (1-for-7 from deep).

On the other end, OKC apparently forgot how to muster attacks these days. Its rotations were slow, it played with fire as Chris Paul made entry passes, and it saw the veteran Spurs guard activate a team of young, hungry individuals.

“No offense is perfect in the NBA, and ours is still far from it,” Williams said. “But I think a lot of our problems come from not playing defense and being tough.”

Gilgeous-Alexander’s entire life, as he will tell you, is consistent. So he’ll tell you on nights like Tuesday that the Thunder — a team, when healthy, with more creative options than Pablo Picasso with an iPad — can’t depend on marks or misses. He said the same thing a year ago, on the best 3-point shooting team in the league.

This season has so far tested his words. His psyche. Since Game 1, his team has been missing Isaiah Hartenstein, a center who was slated to change the way SGA could play. He was supposed to have a bruiser screen and new parquet pockets to play. Since two Sundays ago, he has missed Holmgren, who he knows makes defenses paranoid.

What should theoretically not change is the team’s intended intensity and defensive prowess, even if its strengths are shaved down. Press the ball, gallop in transition and hope to make teams forget about early turnovers and the lack of players taller than 6 feet.

But is it sustainable? Could OKC really b

“Absolutely,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “The teams that win win because they’re really good defensively. That’s what we’re going to do: We’re going to win. So if we’re going to win, we better keep it up for 82 games and then.”

Keldon Johnson, a list of “hungry guys” benefits

Aaron Wiggins came face to face with what it looked like to be full of confidence.

He let out like Buddy Hield was detached from his grip. It was only Keldon Johnson. And yet, with two minutes left in the first half, Johnson was already 4 for 5 from 3.

Step back, side jump. Johnson was losing his mind. He threatened to cross that threshold when a role player is too far away to contain. Little did Wiggins know: Johnson was already there.

When he soared past Wiggins and over Gilgeous-Alexander’s head for an emphatic slap, it was clear.

Johnson entered Tuesday with an efficiency that would be the worst of his career if it held up over 82 games: 44.1% shooting from the field and 25.5% from 3 to 14.

But he was the catalyst for the second-quarter run that got OKC looking up on Tuesday night.

“It’s just slow,” Williams said of OKC’s first half. “Poor defense to start and then everyone is comfortable. … The roster that we just played has a lot of hungry guys trying to make a name for themselves. Trying to get into their rotation.”

Johnson, now in his sixth season, has been around a little too long to fit the exact parameters of what Williams described. But Johnson’s hunger spread on a night without multiple Spurs starters.

San Antonio’s centers, Zach Collins and Charles Bassey, aren’t exactly the picture of bloated bigs. OKC had already taken down several intimidating giants on similarly depleted teams over the past week. But their presence meant open looks for Spurs’ outside shooters, who had a night unlike most this season.

The Spurs had seven double-digit scorers. They made 41.3% of their 46 3-point attempts. Johnson struck out six of them. Unlikely, timely – whatever. Johnson was overconfident Tuesday night, and OKC happened to be recognized with what an appetite looks like.

Thunder vs Spurs livescore updates

What time is Thunder vs. Spurs

  • Date: Tuesday 19 Nov
  • Time: 8:30 p.m. CT
  • Where: Frost Bank Center in San Antonio

What channel is OKC Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs on today?

  • TV: TNT
  • Radio: WWLS 98.1FM

Thunder vs Spurs odds

Odds lent by via BetMGM from Tuesday 19 Nov

Odds: Thunder with 9.5

Above/below: 222.5

Moneyline: OKC -450 | San Antonio +340

OKC Thunder roster

  • Alex Caruso, PG
  • Ousmane Dieng, SF
  • Luguentz Dort, SG
  • Alex Ducas, SG *
  • Adam Flagler, PG
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, SG
  • Isaiah Hartenstein, C
  • Chet Holmgren, PF
  • Isaiah Joe, SG
  • Dillon Jones, SF
  • Ajay Mitchell, SG *
  • Alex Reese, PF
  • Nikola Topić, PG
  • Cason Wallace, SG
  • Aaron Wiggins, SG
  • Jalen Williams, SG
  • Jaylin Williams, PF
  • Kenrich Williams, PF

*-two-way contract

OKC Thunder schedule

  • Tuesday, November 19 (NBA Cup Game): in San Antonio at 20.30 (TNT)
  • Wednesday 20 November: vs. Portland at 7 p.m. (FanDuel Sports Network)
  • Monday 25 November: in Sacramento at 9 p.m. (FanDuel Sports Network and NBA TV)
  • Wednesday 27 November: at Golden State at 9 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Friday, November 29 (NBA Cup Game): at Los Angeles Lakers at 9 p.m. (FanDuel Sports Network and ESPN)

Thunder vs Spurs highlights

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking on one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently and this does not affect our coverage.