Los Angeles — Oklahoma City is maintaining its strong form, while San Antonio has proven worthy of challenging them next. Victor Wembanyama appears likely to return to the lineup. Here’s a recap of Wednesday night’s NBA Cup Western Conference quarterfinals action.
San Antonio Spurs 132, Los Angeles Lakers 119
San Antonio had a clear game strategy. They prioritized fast-paced transition plays, trusting their deep roster of ball-handling guards to outmaneuver the Lakers. The Spurs thrived in transition, boasting an outstanding 188.9 net rating in that phase (per Cleaning the Glass). Stephon Castle led San Antonio’s offense with 30 points, noting that their quick pace opened up the floor and their team tightened defense when it counted most.
The Spurs also sought to keep Luka Doncic primarily as a scorer, avoiding foul trouble for him and Austin Reeves—an issue that had troubled them in a previous loss to the Lakers. Doncic delivered 35 points and eight assists, though his teammates only rallied late in the fourth quarter. The Spurs capitalized at the free-throw line, shooting 36 attempts to the Lakers’ 23 and scoring 12 points there.
San Antonio’s depth and outside shooting were crucial, as their bench outscored the Lakers’ 48 to 31, hitting 44.7% from three-point range (17 of 38). The victory sets up a semifinal clash with Las Vegas and Oklahoma City on Saturday.
Keldon Johnson’s energetic debut off the bench was widely praised; he started red-hot, going 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and scoring 13 first-quarter points. The Lakers struggled early, missing six shots in a row at the start of the second quarter, while the Spurs extended their lead to 17.
Midway through the second quarter, after Lakers coach JJ Redick faced a technical issue, Los Angeles tightened their defense under the leadership of Marcus Smart, sparking an 11-2 run and trimming the deficit. LeBron James provided a standout moment, but San Antonio stayed composed, leading 70-58 at halftime.
This back-and-forth pattern continued in the third quarter, with the Spurs responding each time the Lakers drew closer. In the fourth, the Lakers’ small-ball lineup, led by LeBron or Rui Hachimura, narrowed the gap to eight points, but the Spurs held firm.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson acknowledged the Lakers’ runs but emphasized sticking to their game plan as the key to victory. He also commented that Victor Wembanyama had a very good day and is likely to play against Oklahoma City in Las Vegas, moving smoothly in pregame warm-ups without signs of pain. The Spurs will need his full effort to overcome the Thunder.
Oklahoma City Thunder 138, Phoenix Suns 89
Oklahoma City dominated early, reaching double digits in scoring within four minutes and pulling ahead by 20 points before the game’s first quarter ended. By halftime, the Thunder led 74-48, thanks to a 36-point third quarter and a 17-6 run midway through that period.
In their most significant game of the young season—with a trip to Las Vegas and player bonuses on the line—the Thunder routed the Phoenix Suns 138-89.
The win improves Oklahoma City to 24-1, matching the league’s fastest start set by the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who later set an NBA record with 73 regular-season wins. Offense has been a highlight all season, featuring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 28 points and Chet Holmgren’s 24, but their stout defense made the difference, limiting Phoenix to 39.3% shooting and forcing 21 turnovers, which translated into 34 points. The Suns were without key scorers Devin Booker and Jaylen Green.
This victory marked Oklahoma City’s franchise-record 16th straight win. They’ll face San Antonio in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Phoenix tried to fight back, but Grayson Allen was ejected after a hard foul on Holmgren. Trailing by 36 points, the Suns couldn’t find momentum. Dillon Brooks led Phoenix with 16 points but struggled with efficiency. It was that kind of tough night for the Suns, mirrored by Oklahoma City’s dominance over many teams.
Fan Take: This NBA Cup action highlights the emergence of exciting young stars and strategic depth, signaling a new era of competitive basketball that keeps fans on the edge of their seats. With teams like Oklahoma City and San Antonio showcasing both skill and resilience, the future of the sport looks vibrant and fiercely contested.
