ATS
The Spurs beat the reigning champion Thunder for the third time in less than two weeks. San Antonio dominated Oklahoma City 117-102 during the traditional NBA Christmas Day on Thursday.
In Las Vegas on December 13 (111-109), in San Antonio on Tuesday (130-110) then in Oklahoma on Thursday, the floors change but the result remains the same in favor of the San Antonio Spurs, a team in progress that has become the bane of the champion, yet intractable with other NBA teams.
For this new shock in the Western Conference, the Texans, in black, played the role of Father Fouettard, taking a 17-point lead in the third quarter. Victor Wembanyama, still off the bench since his return from injury two weeks ago, was whistled by the public and targeted by the local defenders, who did not hold back their blows, with more or less subtlety.
Without making a huge impression on the statistics sheet, “Wemby” (19 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block) was decisive in particular in the fourth quarter by linking up a good pass for Stephon Castle, a three-point shot and a lay-up despite a slide.
All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox was excellent for the Texans (29 points). OKC’s Canadian MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, on the other hand, was contained to 22 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, during a match where the Thunder was clumsy from afar (11/44 at 3 points).
The Spurs, with this eighth success in a row, have thus consolidated their 2nd place in the West (23 wins-7 losses), behind Oklahoma City which has 26 wins for 5 losses, including 3 against the new Texan rival.
The Rockets checkmate the Lakers
Clint Capela’s Rockets consolidated their 6th place in the West by beating the Lakers 119-96 late Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles. The Texans ended a series of two losses, inflicting a third consecutive defeat on the Lakers of Luka Doncic (25 points) and LeBron James (18 points).
The California franchise was completely overwhelmed on defense, notably by Kevin Durant (25 points, 9 assists) and Amen Thompson (26 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists). Geneva interior Clint Capela entered the game 2’40 from the end of the match, scoring 6 points – including the last 2 of this game – and 3 rebounds.
