NBA: Keldon Johnson, Victor Wembanyama lead Spurs past short-handed Thunder

Keldon Johnson scored 25 points and Victor Wembanyama added 22 points and 14 rebounds to lead the host San Antonio Spurs to a 116-106 win over the short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, in a clash between the Western Conference’s top two teams.

The win marked San Antonio’s second straight victory and gave them a 4-1 edge in the season series against Oklahoma City — though Wednesday’s triumph came against a Thunder squad missing key players. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain), Chet Holmgren (back spasms), Isaiah Hartenstein (eye corneal abrasion), Luguentz Dort (patellofemoral joint inflammation), Jalen Williams (hamstring strain), and Alex Caruso (adductor injury management) all stayed in Oklahoma City.

Even undermanned, the Thunder made the Spurs work for the win. San Antonio led by 15 points at halftime but only 95-88 after Kenrich Williams’ 3-pointer 35 seconds into the fourth quarter. Oklahoma City pulled within four points on Williams’ layup with 4:03 left, but Stephon Castle answered with back-to-back baskets to give the Spurs separation, holding on from there.

De’Aaron Fox finished with 15 points and 10 assists for San Antonio, while Castle added 14 points, Carter Bryant scored 11, and Luke Kornet grabbed 15 rebounds.

Kenrich Williams led Oklahoma City with 25 points, followed by Jaylin Williams with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Aaron Wiggins scored 20, Brooks Barnhizer added 14, and Cason Wallace contributed 13 points.

San Antonio opened strong, building a 39-26 lead after one quarter, powered by 12 points off the bench from Johnson. The Spurs stretched their lead to as many as 22 points after a Julian Champagnie layup early in the second quarter before Oklahoma City chipped away with five 3-pointers over four-plus minutes to pull within 58-48. San Antonio held a 73-58 advantage at halftime.

Before the break, Wiggins led all scorers with 16 points, while Kenrich Williams and Jaylin Williams added 10 each for the Thunder. Johnson’s 13 points paced the Spurs, with Wembanyama and Bryant scoring 11 apiece in the first half.

-Field Level Media/Reuters