The Oklahoma City Thunder are the defending champions, and they looked unbeatable for the first two months of the season. December came, and they lost multiple games, including three to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Thunder were motivated to get the win on Tuesday against the Spurs in their fourth meeting of the season. It appears that the Thunder were looking forward to the opportunity, as they went on to win the game 119-98.
Williams knows the Spurs are the right rivals for the Thunder
In the long-term future, the Thunder and Spurs will likely be competing for the crown of being the best team in the Western Conference. The Thunder are already the best team in the league, but the Spurs are still on the up and up.
Despite their status as the underdogs against the Thunder, the Spurs have been dominant against the defending champions. Considering their status as the best team in the league, having a losing record against a certain team can motivate them to adjust and improve.
MORE: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dishes on why Victor Wembanyama is always a mismatch
After the win against the Spurs, the Thunder looked relieved and satisfied that they got the win against their tormentors this season. All-Star wing Jalen Williams believes that this has made them a much better team than before.
"They make us a better team when we play them. Win or lose, we have to go about playing the right way every time we play them. It forces us to do other things to win. When we play teams like that, we have to pay attention to detail throughout the entire game," Williams said about the fourth matchup against the Spurs.
Moving forward, it appears this will be the matchup that most people will look at as the pinnacle of Western Conference basketball. Of course, the Denver Nuggets remain a strong team, but the long-term future looks primed to be Shai Gilgeous Alexander vs Victor Wembanyama.
It will be an interesting matchup to track because they will play each other all the time every season. The Thunder will be challenged every time they play against the Spurs.
More NBA news:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reveals his thoughts ahead of anticipated rematch vs. Spurs
- Thunder reclaim good standing in latest NBA power rankings
- Mark Daigneault admits the Oklahoma City Thunder are learning amid recent slump
- “I heard one f— you”: Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama shrugs off Thunder fans’ hostility
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander guilty of dirty play on Victor Wembanyama till proven otherwise