SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Keldon Johnson scored 25 points, Victor Vembanyama added 22 points and 14 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the injury-plagued Oklahoma City Thunder 116-106 on Wednesday night, beating the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder for the fourth time this season and never trailing.
De’Aaron Fox had 15 points and 10 assists, rookie forward Carter Bryant scored a season-high 11 points, and the Spurs won consecutive games.
advertise
The Spurs (34-16) are five games behind the Western Conference-leading Thunder (40-12).
Kenrich Williams scored 25 points and Jaylin Williams added 24 points and 12 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which has just eight active players.
Reigning MVP and All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed the game with an abdominal strain. The Thunder lost their entire regular starting lineup on the second night of a back-to-back.
Late in the third quarter, the Spurs led 90-80 when Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault lined up his three reserves with no one on the bench except staff.
advertise
Oklahoma City’s frontcourt of Jaylin Williams, Kenrich Williams and Aaron Wiggins combined for 69 points, including 36 in the first half. Wiggins scored 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting.
Spurs point guard Jordan McLaughlin played only three minutes in the first three games, but he made full use of the early minutes of the game and hit three-pointers, going on a 12-2 run in the first and second quarters to lead 42-26.
The Thunder have won just three of their last seven games.
The San Antonio Spurs have won their first three games against Oklahoma City, including a 111-109 win in the NBA Cup semifinals on Dec. 13. The Thunder won their last game 119-98 on January 13 in Oklahoma City.
Next
Thunder: Host Houston on Saturday.
Spurs: At Dallas on Thursday.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
