The top two teams in the West meet in a January game that already feels like May. On Tuesday night in Oklahoma City, the Thunder (33-7) host the San Antonio Spurs (27-12) at 8:00 PM ET with seeding, pride, and a brewing rivalry on the line. The Spurs have taken all three meetings this season — including two on the road and the Christmas Day game — while the Thunder are 19-2 at home and back on a three-game win streak. The final injury report gives us our frame: OKC is missing starting center Isaiah Hartenstein, while San Antonio is without sharpshooter Devin Vassell.

Spurs vs Thunder injury report: what it means

Oklahoma City enters with one of its cleanest lists in weeks. As SI.com put it, “The Thunder see one of its healthier injury reports in weeks, with only starting center Isaiah Hartenstein listed as out, aside from its rookies.” Hartenstein is sidelined by a right soleus strain and has missed more than eight games. That matters on the glass and for OKC’s interior passing game. Chet Holmgren has covered a lot of ground, but Hartenstein’s size and screening are real losses.

Athlon underscored the concern: “The missing of the 7-footer is a big blow for the Thunder, who will need all the help they can get to deal with San Antonio’s 7-foot-4 phenom.” Without Hartenstein, expect more minutes for Holmgren at the five and smaller, faster lineups around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to push pace and space.

For San Antonio, it’s straightforward: Vassell is out with a left adductor strain. He averages 15.0 points and shoots 38% from three over 32 games. That stretches defenses and opens lanes for the Spurs’ creators. Without him, San Antonio loses a trusted spacer and late-clock option. Outside of Vassell, the Spurs’ absences are G League assignments.

“No Hartenstein changes the boards — can OKC still keep Wemby off the rim?”

Form, odds, and the West stakes

The Thunder just powered through a mini-slump with three straight wins. They posted 124-112 over the Heat and dropped 117 in wins over the Jazz and Grizzlies. That puts OKC back on the front foot at 33-7, first in the West, and dominant at home (19-2). Oddsmakers like that mix: Oklahoma City is a -8.5 favorite with a total of 230.5.

San Antonio arrives after a narrow 104-103 loss to the Timberwolves, but the Spurs own the matchup edge this season. They’ve beaten the Thunder three times already — twice in Oklahoma City — including a statement win on Christmas Day. It’s a strange split: the Thunder’s league-best record and fortress at Paycom Center versus the Spurs’ clear matchup success so far.

That makes Tuesday a temperature check for both teams. For the Thunder, it’s a chance to erase the head-to-head gap and build momentum toward the All-Star break. For the Spurs, it’s proof that their approach is repeatable against the West’s top seed.

“If the Spurs sweep 4-0, we’re not calling it a fluke — it’s a blueprint.”

Superstars and swing pieces: SGA, Wemby, Chet, Castle

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is laying down an MVP track. He’s at 31.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game on eye-popping efficiency — 54.7% from the field and 39.6% from three. When SGA gets two feet in the paint, OKC’s shooters eat. When he lives at the elbow, he controls tempo. San Antonio has to show him bodies early and live with tough pull-ups.

Victor Wembanyama sets the tone for the Spurs at both ends. He’s averaging 24 points and 11 rebounds and is a cheat code at the rim. With Hartenstein out, Holmgren’s discipline will be tested on box-outs and verticality. Chet brings 18.1 points, 8.4 boards, and 1.8 blocks — and his shooting drags bigs away from the paint. That cat-and-mouse with Wembanyama is the chessboard inside the game.

Then there’s the guard play behind the stars. Rookie Stephon Castle has been a steady driver for San Antonio at 17.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.8 assists. As Fadeaway World wrote, “Stephon Castle is the swing piece for the Spurs… If he forces the Thunder to rotate early, the Spurs’ shooters get the exact looks they want.” That reads true. Castle’s first step and patience force help, and even without Vassell, the Spurs can still space with secondary shooters and cutters.

Also in the mix: De’Aaron Fox’s pace and playmaking (17.8 points, 5.8 assists) give the Spurs another gear in the open floor. If San Antonio wins the turnover game, Fox and Castle can pressure OKC before the defense is set.

Tactical watch: paint, pace, and the 3-point line

Without Hartenstein, OKC will likely lean into speed. That means more five-out looks, quicker hits in early offense, and trusting SGA as a late-clock closer. But the Thunder still have to finish possessions. If San Antonio wins the offensive rebounding battle, second-chance points will keep this tight deep into the fourth quarter.

For the Spurs, the plan is simple yet hard to execute:

• Get Wembanyama touches early to force help and foul pressure.
• Let Castle attack closeouts to trigger rotations.
• Keep the ball hot to find open threes, even without Vassell.
• Wall off SGA’s drives with early stunts and quick hands.

On the other end, OKC has to make San Antonio pay for over-helping. Holmgren pick-and-pops can stretch Wembanyama out, opening lanes for SGA and cutters. If the Thunder hit their first threes, the Spurs’ defense gets pulled thin, and the game bends toward OKC’s pace.

“SGA vs. Castle drives will decide the whistle — and maybe the game.”

Numbers to know before tip

• Thunder are 19-2 at Paycom Center and have won three straight after a brief skid.
• Spurs lead the season series 3-0, including two wins in OKC and the Christmas Day game.
• OKC’s offense has cleared 117 points in recent wins over Utah and Memphis, and hung 124 on Miami.
• Vassell’s absence removes a 38% three-point shooter from San Antonio’s rotation.
• Wembanyama (24/11) vs. Holmgren (18.1/8.4/1.8) remains the league’s must-see big man duel.

Bottom line

This is a proving-ground game. The Thunder want a launchpad win to keep pace atop the West and shake off the season-series funk. The Spurs want a fourth straight win over the No. 1 seed to show their style scales in the toughest building in the conference.

Hartenstein’s absence tilts the interior toward San Antonio, but OKC’s shot creation and home form are real advantages. If Castle’s pressure gets OKC rotating and the Spurs control the glass, a sweep is in play. If SGA sets the terms and Holmgren wins the spacing battle with Wembanyama, the Thunder should finally flip this matchup on its head.

Either way, expect a close, smart, late-game finish — just the kind of test both teams want in mid-January.