SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs snapped their five-game losing skid with a win over the Thunder, 132-118.
Victor Wembanyama finished with 28 points and 13 rebounds. Malaki Branham had six points and two rebounds. Zach Collins added 13 points off the bench. Devin Vassell recorded 28 points in the win. Tre Jones added 17 points and six assists.
The Spurs are 12-48 on the season and will next host the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night.
Here's a sample of what the teams said after the game.
SPURS
Coach Gregg Popovich:
“We got a lot of points off the turnovers in the first half. I think we had eight turnovers in the first half and they got 17 points. How do you get 17 Points off eight turnovers? But they were live-ball turnovers. But the 39 assists were great. In the fourth quarter, [Oklahoma City] scored 22. Any good basketball team is going to play their best defense in that fourth quarter. So, to see them hold them to 22 was impressive<" Gregg Popovich said. "That and assists, I think were good. I was proud of them. It's been a long rodeo road trip. It was tough the other night getting back at 7:30 in the morning. It was a little bit late, but they dug down deep and they’re a good group. They stuck with it, and they showed a lot of metal tonight against a hell of a team. OKC has been fantastic all year long. To play with them like that is really a good feeling for these guys.”
Vassell:
“I think everybody played a big part, obviously, today. I can go down the line and name everybody who was hooping, but it's a bunch of guys who put in. I think Jeremy really woke up that fourth quarter. He got us going, defensively, and offensively he got going. A pivotal moment, Victor shoots a crazy three, and I'm looking at him like there's no way he shot that then it goes down."
Wembanyama:
“The difference was the 39 assists. I think that was a big difference. This makes a difference in big games. Also, not turning the ball over in the fourth quarter. We just played with heart, and I think it’s one of the best ways to come back home after a month away.”
Jones:
"There in the fourth quarter, I want to say they took the lead. We had a 12-point lead in the third and they cut it real quick, took the lead in the fourth and we didn't drop our heads there. That's something we've done in the past. We stayed together, we continue to pound the rock and chip away at things and things went our way down the stretch.”
THUNDER
Coach Mark Daigneault:
“We were obviously disruptive, throughout. It was more just the sharpness of their movement. We seem to be behind a lot of plays from a pace standpoint. I thought we got that corrected. I thought we tried to turn it on, especially in the second half and in the third quarter. But like I said, credit them. They (Spurs) went and got that game.”
Chet Holmgren:
“It’s just another reminder that this is the NBA and no team is in the NBA for no reason. No player is in the NBA for no reason. Any team can beat you on any given night regardless of record or anything. Like I said, they came out confident. Part of that was them. Part of that was us. We just got to be better next time around.”