Thunder pip Spurs in chippy opener

NEW YORK (AFP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder rode a hot start to a 116-104 victory over Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in the night cap of the opening night of the National Basketball Association (NBA) on Tuesday.

Wembanyama, widely tipped to end Gilgeous-Alexander’s two-year Most Valuable Player reign, made just one basket in 13 attempts, an alley-oop dunk to end the third quarter.

He made his presence felt with 13 rebounds and six blocked shots and scored 12 points largely thanks to 10 free throws.

But the Spurs, led by 24 points from Stephon Castle, ultimately had no answer for an Oklahoma City outfit “hungry” after their title defense ended in a seven-game loss to San Antonio in last season’s Western Conference finals.

“Obviously, this is the team that eliminated us from achieving our goal,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.

“But for us, I think it was more like we’re just happy to be back. It’s a longer summer when you don’t win, and we felt that this summer.”

There was plenty of tension between the young teams tipped to duel for supremacy in the West for years to come.

Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox was whistled for a flagrant foul after throwing Thunder center Chet Holmgren to the court early in the second quarter, sparking a shoving match that resulted in multiple technical fouls.