The Oklahoma City Thunder finally got their big win in their fourth game against the San Antonio Spurs this season. It has not been the best matchup for the Thunder, but they have gotten a close look at a Spurs team that seems primed to be their long-term rival.
As the two superstars of both teams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama are often compared to each other. They do not play the same position, but Gilgeous-Alexander has seen what it's like defending against the 7'3" behemoth.
Gilgeous-Alexander admits Wembanyama is a tough matchup
The Thunder got a big victory against the Spurs on Tuesday, 119-98. It was a massive result for the Thunder because they got rid of their chip on their shoulder.
Before this win, the Spurs had won three consecutive games against the Thunder, so they wanted to prove themselves. It was not easy because the Spurs had Wembanyama as their star player. Even if the Thunder got a blowout win, it was still a tough day to defend against Wembanyama.
More: Mitch Johnson admits Victor Wembanyama still has some room to left to grow
Wembanyama did not get to play the entire game, as he suffered a slight injury during the game. His presence could mean that the Spurs might have been more competitive. Despite his absence, the Thunder kept holding him at a high level of respect.
"Every basketball player has something they're comfortable doing. The better teams are much better at getting to that, and I think it's your job to try and take them out of their game as much as you can... I think we did a good job of making it tough for anybody," Gilgeous-Alexander said after the win over San Antonio.
"If you let them be comfortable and get to their strengths, they'll probably hurt us more."
In the long run, the Thunder and Spurs will continue to clash. They will have a good perspective on each other. Gilgeous-Alexander will be the star player for the Thunder, and the Spurs will observe him closely.
At the same time, the Spurs will also be closely observed. Wembanyama is the star they will take note of, but the rest of the team will also be in the scouting report, such as Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, and more.
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