The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder advanced to the semifinals of the NBA Cup, showcasing impressive performances in their respective quarterfinal matchups on March 15, 2025. The Spurs defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119, while the Thunder crushed the Phoenix Suns 138-89, setting the stage for an exciting showdown in Las Vegas.
Spurs Outpace Lakers
San Antonio executed a well-crafted game plan against Los Angeles. The Spurs leveraged their transition game, achieving a remarkable 188.9 net rating in fast breaks, according to statistics from Cleaning the Glass. “I think our pace was great from the start of the game; it opened up the court for us,” said Stephon Castle, who led the Spurs with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists while shooting 10-of-14 from the field.
The Spurs aimed to limit the effectiveness of Lakers’ stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves by avoiding fouls. Doncic scored 35 points and provided eight assists but struggled to involve his teammates until a late-game push. San Antonio capitalized on their advantage at the free-throw line, converting 36 attempts compared to the Lakers’ 23, finishing with twelve more points from the line.
The Spurs also showcased their depth, dominating bench scoring 48-31 and hitting 17-of-38 (44.7%) from three-point range. Keldon Johnson made a notable impact off the bench, scoring 13 points in the first quarter and contributing to a strong start that saw San Antonio lead 39-30 after the first period.
Despite a resilient effort from the Lakers, who responded with an 11-2 run following a technical foul on coach J.J. Redick, the Spurs maintained control. LeBron James delivered a highlight-reel dunk during this stretch but was unable to shift the momentum entirely. The Spurs closed the half ahead 70-58 and continued to fend off the Lakers’ attempts to narrow the gap in the second half.
Coach Mitch Johnson acknowledged the challenges posed by the Lakers but praised his team’s composure. He also mentioned that Victor Wembanyama had a positive day and hinted at his potential return for the semifinals in Las Vegas. Wembanyama, who had been sidelined with a calf strain, appeared to move well during pregame warm-ups.
Thunder Dominate Suns
The Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a commanding performance against the Phoenix Suns, winning by a staggering 49 points. OKC jumped to a double-digit lead within the first four minutes and extended it to 20 points less than ten minutes into the game. By halftime, the score stood at 74-48 in favor of the Thunder.
Oklahoma City’s offense, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 28 points and Chet Holmgren contributing 24 points, has been a focal point all season. However, it was their defense that truly set them apart, limiting the Suns to under 40% shooting (39.3%) and forcing 21 turnovers which converted to 34 points.
The Thunder’s victory marked a franchise-record 16th consecutive win, tying them with the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors for the fastest start in NBA history at 24-1. The Suns, missing key players Devin Booker and Jalen Green, struggled to find their rhythm. Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 16 points, but his efforts came on a difficult 4-of-16 shooting night.
Despite the lopsided score, the game was marked by physicality, highlighted by Grayson Allen being ejected for a flagrant foul on Holmgren. The incident occurred when the Suns were down by 36 points, failing to rally from that point onward.
With their victories, the Spurs and Thunder now look forward to their matchup in Las Vegas, promising an exhilarating contest for fans and players alike.
