On December 23, 2025, the San Antonio Spurs did it again. They beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 130-110, grabbing a second straight win over the champs and sending a clear message: this young Spurs group is learning how to finish. It was a game of swings early, a grind in the middle, and then a burst of smart, fast basketball when it mattered most.

One highlight call said it plain: “Spurs win 2nd straight against the champs 130-110.” That’s the headline, but the story ran deeper than the final score.

First-half chaos: 12 lead changes in a tight Spurs vs Thunder start

The opening two quarters were a tug-of-war. There were 12 lead changes in the first half, a sign that both teams came ready and matched each other shot for shot. The pace felt quick, the ball hopped side to side, and every small run met an answer on the other end.

Oklahoma City pushed with drives and kick-outs. San Antonio answered with pace and spread shooting. The box score will show the back-and-forth, but the feel of it was simple: neither side could land the punch needed to break the game open before halftime.

“This looked even until the Spurs turned smart shots into easy points.”

Fourth-quarter swing: Spurs plus 10 when it mattered

Everything changed late. The Spurs kept their shape, moved the ball, and hunted clean looks. The Thunder slipped into what the highlights called a dormant fourth quarter. San Antonio stretched the margin, hitting that key stretch where the scoreboard read Spurs plus 10. From there, the game tilted for good.

Why did it turn? Shot quality and energy. The Spurs turned stops into fast breaks, then mixed in drive-and-kick threes. They didn’t rush, but they didn’t hesitate either. OKC’s offense, so sharp earlier, lost rhythm, and that was enough for San Antonio to step on the gas.

Stephon Castle’s breakout: five threes, 24 points

Rookie guard Stephon Castle starred. He poured in 24 points and buried five three-pointers. The number matters, but it’s how he got there that stands out. His threes came within the flow: feet set, deep breath, no panic. Each make pulled the Thunder defense a step wider. Each make opened a drive or a cut somewhere else on the floor.

Castle didn’t need a heat-check to prove a point. He simply made the right reads and the right shots. In a game this tight for so long, five threes is a swing factor. It changes the math and the mood.

“Castle’s five triples changed the math—simple as that.”

Highlights that popped: dunks, threes, and names to know

The reels told the rest: a string of dunks and threes to close. Plays from JDub, Barnes, Minyama, Castle, Harper, Champenny, Shay (a trifecta), and Hartstein put fresh energy on every possession. The Spurs fed off that energy late, turning defense into fast points and opening the floor for the knockdown jumpers that iced it.

When the Thunder went quiet, San Antonio was loud in all the right ways: rim runs, corner threes, and the extra pass that makes a good shot great. That’s how a close game flipped into a double-digit win.

Why this Spurs win matters against the champs

It’s not just a win; it’s the second straight against the champs. Again, as the highlight call put it: “Spurs win 2nd straight against the champs 130-110.” That line speaks to confidence. Beating a champion once is a thrill. Beating them again suggests growth and trust in the plan.

San Antonio showed poise. They didn’t lean on hero shots. They leaned on spacing, pace, and decision-making. That’s a blueprint that travels. It also builds belief in a young locker room that now has proof that its style can win on a big stage.

“If this is the new Spurs pace-and-space, the West better look again.”

Numbers that tell the story

• Final score: Spurs 130, Thunder 110
• Lead changes: 12 in the first half alone
• Fourth-quarter edge: Spurs pushed to plus 10 and kept building
• Top scorer highlight: Stephon Castle, 24 points with five made threes

These numbers paint a clean picture. This wasn’t a fluke. The Spurs outplayed the Thunder late, and they did it by owning the shot battle and the pace battle. A quiet fourth from OKC plus a confident fourth from San Antonio equals a runaway finish.

Simple formula, big result

San Antonio won this game with a simple formula:

• Guard the paint, then cover the arc.
• Run the floor with purpose, not panic.
• Trust the extra pass and step into open threes.
• Ride the hot hand (Castle) but keep everyone involved.

That’s how you turn a tense, even game into a 20-point gap on the road to the final horn.

Final word: a statement on a December night

There are games that fill a schedule, and there are games that say something. This one spoke. The Spurs were steady early, smart late, and bold when the moment asked for it. The champs did not have an answer in the fourth, and San Antonio did not let them off the hook.

It’s one night in December, but it’s also a sign. The Spurs have a style, a shooter rising in Stephon Castle, and the nerve to close. If they can bottle this fourth-quarter focus, more nights like 130-110 are coming.