Last year’s top two teams from the Western Conference will clash on Tuesday when the San Antonio Spurs host the Oklahoma City Thunder in the nightcap of a season-opening NBA tripleheader.
Expect fireworks aplenty, even if it’s just opening day. It’s all about setting a tone for the campaign for both teams.
The last time these teams faced off resulted in the Spurs beating Oklahoma City 111-103 on the road in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals to clinch a spot opposite the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.
That came after a regular season in which the Thunder posted the best record in the NBA for the second straight year (64-18) with the Spurs hot on their heels after producing their most wins (62) since the 2015-16 campaign.
There’s not a lot to separate the teams this year, at least at the start of the year.
Oklahoma City is led by two-time defending league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and backed by a solid and proven cast including a healthy Jalen Williams and center Chet Holmgren. Gone from last year’s team are Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, who were all traded in the offseason.
“This group, we understand what it takes to win,” Gilgeous-Alexander said earlier this month. “We know what it’s going to look like. … It’s less learning and more everybody sharpening their individual blade, and the blade as a team.”
Some say that Gilgeous-Alexander could be even better playing off the ball, and he might get that chance more this season.
“Every season and every offseason, I use it to try to find ways to become a more well-rounded basketball player,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “That was just an area of the game where I felt like I could be a better basketball player.”
Holmgren has been battling a quad injury and could miss the season-opener.
As for the Spurs, they return unanimous Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama and virtually every player from last year’s team that had any meaningful role. Wembanyama, now in his fourth season, is expected to push Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver’s Nikola Jokic for MVP after finishing third behind the pair last season.
He will have plenty of help getting the Spurs to the next level. That roster starts with guards De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper and extends to forwards Julian Champagnie and Devin Vassell.
Fox said he, Castle and Harper talked this summer about playing together in a three-guard lineup.
“We knew there was a chance that we’d all be starting or at least sharing the court a lot more together,” Fox said. “I think we’re all excited for it.”
Wembanyana is also a fan of having the three talented guards on the court at the same time.
“The biggest thing is that I’ve got (ball) handlers all around me, guys we want to put the ball in their hands and pick and roll all around me,” Wembanyama said. “So that makes some things easier.”
Harper said the Spurs have put in their due diligence and will be ready for the grind of the season.
“We’ve attacked this preseason the right way, obviously, just going in with the right mindset and the right kind of details,” Harper said. “I feel like we’ll be good to go come Tuesday.
“I feel like my confidence level in the preparation I put in that I’m in a little better spot than I was last year. Definitely.”
San Antonio signed 15-year veteran Tobias Harris in the offseason to add some toughness and moxie, but Harris has been sidelined the entire preseason and may miss the season opener because of a strained left calf.
