Thunder Lead Spurs at Halftime in NBA Season Opener

Oklahoma City Thunder took a 65-44 halftime lead over the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio on the opening night of the 2026-27 NBA season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 16 points, while Victor Wembanyama struggled to score but contributed three blocks for the Spurs. The matchup brings together two leading contenders for the NBA Most Valuable Player award.

According to USA TODAY's preseason ranking of the league's top 100 players, Gilgeous-Alexander, 28, ranks No. 1, while Wembanyama, 22, holds the No. 3 position. Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 16 points, one rebound, four assists and two blocks through the first two quarters, according to the game statistics reported by USA TODAY. His scoring helped Oklahoma City establish a 21-point advantage at halftime.

Wembanyama finished the first half with eight points, six rebounds and two assists. He went 0-for-7 from the floor but registered three blocks, highlighting his defensive contribution despite his shooting difficulties.

The opening-night contest follows a significant postseason rivalry between the two Western Conference teams. San Antonio eliminated Oklahoma City in a seven-game Western Conference Finals series last season, preventing the Thunder from advancing to another NBA Finals appearance. Oklahoma City entered the new campaign after winning the 2025 NBA championship, with Gilgeous-Alexander earning his second MVP award. The Thunder are seeking to build on that success as they begin their title defense.

San Antonio, meanwhile, is looking to recover from its NBA Finals loss to the New York Knicks. Wembanyama and his teammates opened the season against the reigning champions with another high-profile meeting between two young teams pursuing further postseason success. USA TODAY's preseason player rankings placed Gilgeous-Alexander ahead of Wembanyama entering the 2026-27 campaign. Their season-opening matchup provides an early meeting between two players expected to feature prominently in the MVP race, although the first-half statistics show contrasting performances in scoring and defense.