The Spurs-Oklahoma City derived timeline is among one of the most interesting relationships in contemporary NBA history. These two Western teams, on the whole, have had iconic playoff games, moments, memorable scores and super star matchups that defined various championships over the years. The rivalry started in the late 1970s and 1980s, when the Seattle SuperSonics played against the San Antonio Spurs. The clash also got in a new round in 2008 when the SuperSonics moved and became the Oklahoma City Thunder. They quickly became one of one of the best developing young teams in the NBA and the Spurs were still on top form with Gregg Popovich. This article will provide complete information about San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder Timeline.
San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder Overview
The Spurs and Thunder have played hundreds times before each other in the regular season and playoffs. They have played a single postseason game before and have some pivotal Western Conference Finals battles ahead of them.
San Antonio always had a long history of dominance in much of their early competition due to consistency and their championship winning culture. Later, Oklahoma City became a potential threat with a talented young team of players. This matchup is one of the NBA’s most respected Western Conference matchups due to their success as a team in reaching the NBA Hall of Fame.
Category
San Antonio Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder
Conference
Western Conference
Western Conference
Division
Southwest Division
Northwest Division
Home Arena
Frost Bank Center
Paycom Center
NBA Championships
5
1 (SuperSonics era)
Rivalry Started
1970s
1970s
Playoff Meetings
Multiple
Multiple
Rivalry Status
Active
Active
Early Years: Spurs vs SuperSonics Era
The Seattle SuperSonics were the rivals before Oklahoma City was formed as an NBA team. During the late 70’s and 80’s, the Spurs and SuperSonics typically fought tooth and nail in the West. In some years, Seattle emerged as one of the best teams, and once made the NBA title runners-up in 1979. In the meantime, San Antonio evolved into a regular playoff team. Generally, games in this era consisted of physical and defensive play. Large emphasis is placed upon good inside play, rebounding, and stern coaching during the era of basketball. The rivalry was a tight one, but eventually San Antonio grew into the more robust franchise going into the 1990s.
1990s: The Spurs Dynasty Rise
It looks pretty different after Tim Duncan was drafted in 1997 by the San Antonio Spurs. Duncan soon made his mark as one of the Big Three in the NBA’s power forward position and helped make the Spurs a championship contending team.
Seattle was still considered a player in the game as they were joined by players such as Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp in the 90’s. They were involved in exciting games playing great basketball on the court, but then playing great basketball off the court against the disciplined and team-based San Antonio system. The conflict was much more significant due to the fact that both teams had many seasons playing in the Western top four.
Tim Duncan essentially transformed San Antonio basketball and contributed to one of the NBA’s dynasty-leading teams.
The Oklahoma City Thunder Era Begins
The Olympics-going Rain’s recent relocation in 2008 triggered the beginning of a new chapter in the confrontation, as the franchise became the Oklahoma City Thunder. Initially, Oklahoma City had trouble due to its youthful squad, one of the youngest in NBA history. The franchise, however, turned into a future powerhouse through its methods of developing players like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Of course, the Spurs were still going to championship battles under Gregg Popovich. The young Thunder squad soon was one of the biggest threats in the NBA.
2012 Western Conference Finals
The Spurs came into this series with a huge lead and they picked up their first two games. San Antonio’s teamwork, experience, and efficient offense resulted in their seemingly unstoppable attack.
But Oklahoma City had Nolan Artsen, Fianna Lewis and Nick Collison stepping up behind Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. But the Thunder brought in their athleticism, speed and ability to score and completely turned the tide of the series. The Spurs eventually lost four games to two at the hands of Oklahoma City and went on to at least the NBA Finals. This comeback win went on to become one of Thunder’s most notable historic victories. Russell Westbrook’s disruption and athleticism wracked teams with the Magic and Kevin Durant was at his elite level throughout the series.
San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder Head to Head
Category
San Antonio Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder / Seattle SuperSonics
Total Wins
125
105
Regular Season Wins
118
95
Playoff Wins
7
10
Total Games Played
230
230
Rivalry Started
1976
1976
Best Era
Tim Duncan Dynasty
Durant–Westbrook Era
Recent Star Players
Victor Wembanyama
Chet Holmgren
Overall Series Leader
Yes
No
San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder Timeline
2025-26 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Feb 4, 2026
San Antonio Spurs
116-106
Jan 13, 2026
Oklahoma City Thunder
119-98
Dec 25, 2025
San Antonio Spurs
117-102
Dec 23, 2025
San Antonio Spurs
130-110
Dec 13, 2025
San Antonio Spurs
111-109
2024-25 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Mar 2, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder
146-132
Nov 19, 2024
San Antonio Spurs
110-104
Oct 30, 2024
Oklahoma City Thunder
105-93
2023-24 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Apr 10, 2024
Oklahoma City Thunder
127-89
Feb 29, 2024
San Antonio Spurs
132-118
Jan 24, 2024
Oklahoma City Thunder
140-114
Nov 14, 2023
Oklahoma City Thunder
123-87
2022-23 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Mar 12, 2023
Oklahoma City Thunder
102-90
Dec 27, 2022
Oklahoma City Thunder
130-114
Nov 30, 2022
Oklahoma City Thunder
119-111
2021-22 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Mar 16, 2022
San Antonio Spurs
122-120
Feb 16, 2022
San Antonio Spurs
114-106
Jan 19, 2022
San Antonio Spurs
118-96
Nov 7, 2021
Oklahoma City Thunder
99-94
2020-21 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Mar 4, 2021
Oklahoma City Thunder
107-102
Feb 24, 2021
Oklahoma City Thunder
102-99
Jan 12, 2021
San Antonio Spurs
112-102
2019-20 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Feb 23, 2020
Oklahoma City Thunder
131-103
Feb 11, 2020
San Antonio Spurs
114-106
Jan 2, 2020
Oklahoma City Thunder
109-103
Nov 7, 2019
San Antonio Spurs
121-112
2018-19 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Mar 2, 2019
San Antonio Spurs
116-102
Jan 12, 2019
Oklahoma City Thunder
122-112
Jan 10, 2019
San Antonio Spurs
154-147 (2OT)
2017-18 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Mar 29, 2018
San Antonio Spurs
103-99
Mar 10, 2018
Oklahoma City Thunder
104-94
Dec 3, 2017
Oklahoma City Thunder
90-87
Nov 17, 2017
San Antonio Spurs
104-101
2016-17 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Mar 31, 2017
San Antonio Spurs
100-95
Mar 9, 2017
Oklahoma City Thunder
102-92
Jan 31, 2017
San Antonio Spurs
108-94
2015-16 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Apr 12, 2016
San Antonio Spurs
102-98 (OT)
Mar 26, 2016
Oklahoma City Thunder
111-92
Mar 12, 2016
San Antonio Spurs
93-85
Oct 28, 2015
Oklahoma City Thunder
112-106
2014-15 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Apr 7, 2015
San Antonio Spurs
113-88
Mar 25, 2015
San Antonio Spurs
130-91
Dec 25, 2014
Oklahoma City Thunder
114-106
2013-14 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Apr 3, 2014
Oklahoma City Thunder
106-94
Jan 22, 2014
Oklahoma City Thunder
111-105
Dec 21, 2013
Oklahoma City Thunder
113-100
Nov 27, 2013
Oklahoma City Thunder
94-88
2012-13 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Apr 4, 2013
Oklahoma City Thunder
100-88
Mar 11, 2013
San Antonio Spurs
105-93
Dec 17, 2012
Oklahoma City Thunder
107-93
Nov 1, 2012
San Antonio Spurs
86-84
2011-12 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Mar 16, 2012
San Antonio Spurs
114-105
Feb 4, 2012
San Antonio Spurs
107-96
Jan 8, 2012
Oklahoma City Thunder
108-96
2010-11 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Feb 23, 2011
San Antonio Spurs
109-105
Jan 1, 2011
San Antonio Spurs
101-74
Nov 14, 2010
San Antonio Spurs
117-104
2009-10 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Mar 22, 2010
San Antonio Spurs
99-96
Feb 24, 2010
San Antonio Spurs
95-87
Jan 13, 2010
San Antonio Spurs
109-108 (OT)
Nov 14, 2009
Oklahoma City Thunder
101-98
2008-09 Season
Date
Winner
Score
Apr 7, 2009
San Antonio Spurs
99-89
Mar 31, 2009
Oklahoma City Thunder
96-95
Mar 16, 2009
Oklahoma City Thunder
78-76
Dec 14, 2008
San Antonio Spurs
109-104
Future of the Rivalry
Both franchises seem to have a very bright future. With an already excellent young squad, Oklahoma City already has one of the best youth in the NBA. The Thunder remain making great strides toward becoming a potential Henry grammar championship team. San Antonio is working to rebuild around Victor Wembanyama and gradually developing a competitive team. These squads have a chance to be prime Western opponents within the next 10 years, according to many NBA experts.
Sequential matchups between these teams in the future could be a major NBA circus.
Conclusion
The San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder timeline is quite extensive, spanning decades of competitive basketball, legendary playoff battles, superstar performances and unforgettable moments. The Seattle SuperSonics days to the current Thunder era – it’s been played out across several NBA generations. Much of it was ascribed to Tim Duncan, Gregg Popovich, and the level of performance in many early years, though, of course, all of that is to San Antonio. The Oklahoma City Warriors would go on to become a huge powerhouse in the West with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
The competition today is an exciting new chapter with the leadership of Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander representing the next-generation of stars. The thing that makes this competition so special is its history, its degree of intensity and its potential for the future. Some absolute high drama between these teams has already been seen, and there are a lot more great games to come in the future.
FAQs
Q1. Who is the team with the most career points in their all-time series against Oklahoma City Thunder?
A1. The all-time series between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise is in the Spurs’ favor.
Q2. Which players made this rivalry famous?
A2. Many stars, such as Tim Duncan, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Tony Parker made the game popular.
Q3. What was the biggest playoff moment in this rivalry?
A3. The most significant one was in 2012 when Oklahoma City beat San Antonio in the Western Conference Finals.
Q4. Why is the Spurs vs Thunder Warriors rivalry famous?
A4. The rivalry is a favorite among fans-superstar players, playoffs history, fast-paced games, and intense competition in the West all come into play.
