Thunder 64-18, Spurs 62-20: Oklahoma City's 2025-26 edge was defense
Oklahoma City and San Antonio scored almost the same per game in 2025-26, but the Thunder allowed 3.6 fewer points. This compares shooting, turnovers, rebounding and records against margins for the two teams.
Published: · Figures as of October 3, 2026
Asked: How did the Thunder and Spurs compare on what they actually did in the 2025-26 regular season?
Thunder won two more games, and the gap came entirely from defense
In the 2025-26 regular season, Oklahoma City went 64-18 and San Antonio went 62-20. Oklahoma City outscored opponents by 11.1 points a game and San Antonio by 8.3. Scoring was nearly identical, at 119.0 for the Thunder and 119.8 for the Spurs. The Thunder allowed 107.9 a game and the Spurs 111.5.
| Per game | Thunder | Spurs |
|---|---|---|
| Points scored | 119.0 | 119.8 |
| Points allowed | 107.9 | 111.5 |
| FG% | 48.4 | 48.3 |
| 3P% | 36.5 | 35.9 |
| Turnovers | 12.0 | 12.6 |
| Steals | 9.7 | 7.5 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9.6 | 11.4 |
| Total rebounds | 44.1 | 47.0 |
| Assists | 25.8 | 28.1 |
| Team and side | Points per game (points) |
|---|---|
| OKC scored | 119.0 |
| SAS scored | 119.8 |
| OKC allowed | 107.9 |
| SAS allowed | 111.5 |
Style differences. Shooting was a wash, with both teams at about 48% from the field and the same 37.9 threes attempted a game. Oklahoma City forced more turnovers, with 9.7 steals a game to 7.5, and turned the ball over less. San Antonio did more on the boards and in passing: 47.0 rebounds to 44.1, 11.4 offensive rebounds to 9.6, and 28.1 assists to 25.8. Blocks were level at 5.5 a game.
Records versus margins. Team Sustainability puts Oklahoma City 1.4 wins behind what its scoring margin supports, and San Antonio 2.1 wins ahead. Both read as in line. The 2-win gap in the standings is roughly 3.5 wins once the margins are used instead of the records.
Roster notes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won MVP for the Thunder, scoring 31.1 points a game in 68 games. Victor Wembanyama won Defensive Player of the Year for the Spurs, with 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds a game in 64 games. Jalen Williams played 33 games for Oklahoma City, which cut into its depth. Both teams' Power Ratings were last updated September 30, 2026 and describe the current rosters rather than what happened last season.
Confidence: High, because every figure is from completed regular-season games.