Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder roll past Spurs 116-104 in first matchup since conference finals defeat

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 32 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder opened their season with a 116-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, the team that ended their dreams of a title defense last season.

San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama had 12 points but was 1 for 13 from the field. It was his fewest field goals since going 2 for 5 against Minnesota on May 10. Wembanyama's lone field goal came on an alley-oop pass from De’Aaron Fox as time expired in the third quarter. Wembanyama missed his first 12 shots, including having an alley-oop attempt blocked by 7-foot-3 rookie Aday Mara.

Jared McCain added 20 points on 6-for-8 shooting on 3-pointers as Oklahoma City led for all but the opening five minutes of the game.

The Spurs beat the Thunder 111-103 in Oklahoma City in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on May 30 in their previous matchup.

Nearly five months apart did not cool this heated rivalry.

Three minutes into the second quarter Fox received a Flagrant Foul 1 for tossing Chet Holmgren to the court after they became entangled in the paint. The body slam led to a huge scrum with Wembanyama and Jaylin Williams having to be separated after pushing each other. Wembanyama, Williams, Jalen Williams and Kenrich Williams each received a technical for the dust up.

Oklahoma City went on a 9-0 run after the scuffle with Jalen and Kenrich Williams accounting for five points. Harrison Barnes' 3-pointer ended the run, but the Thunder responded by scoring 13 straight capped by Cason Wallace's 3-pointer for a 59-33 lead.

Oklahoma City outscored San Antonio 31-16 in the second quarter in taking a 65-44 lead at the half.

The Spurs opened the second half on a 23-9 run to pull within single digits after trailing by 26 in the first half.

Gilgeous-Alexander and McCain stepped up when San Antonio pulled close, combining for 25 points in the second half.

Thunder: Host Denver on Thursday night.

Spurs: Host Houston in Austin on Friday night.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) attempts to block a shot by San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder center Aday Mara during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, left, looks to pass as he is guarded by San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) dunks against San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

SEATTLE (AP) — Freddy Gaudreau and Bobby McMann scored for Seattle in a shootout as the Kraken defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Tuesday night after blowing a three-goal lead in the third period.

Mackie Samoskevich, Ryker Evans and Brandon Montour scored in the first two periods for Seattle, which improved to 6-3-1. Philipp Grubauer made 22 saves in regulation and then denied Dylan Larkin to end the shootout.

Viktor Arvidsson and Lucas Raymond scored 59 seconds apart for Detroit (3-3-3), and Alex DeBrincat tied the game on a power play with 17 seconds left in the third. Daniil Tarasov stopped 24 shots.

Samoskevich opened the scoring 6:45 into the first period.

Overlapping too-many-men and delay-of-game penalties by Detroit gave Seattle a two-man advantage early in the second. Evans doubled the Kraken’s lead with a power-play goal at 3:22 after the first penalty expired. The defenseman scored from alone in front of the net after Michael Rasmussen turned over the puck along the boards.

Montour scored his first goal of the season with 3:59 remaining in the second. He returned to action after missing one game with a lower-body injury.

Detroit got going late. The Red Wings took 13 shots in the third period after mustering only 11 in the first two. Arvidsson spoiled Grubauer’s shutout bid 6:25 into the third, and Raymond scored his first goal of the season at 7:24 on a power play.

DeBrincat tied it with his sixth goal of the season.

Arvidsson had the Red Wings’ only shootout goal, tying it in the third round right after Gaudreau converted. McMann scored in the fourth round before Grubauer stopped Larkin's wrist shot.

Seattle has won four of its last six games. Detroit has earned at least one point in each of its last five.

Red Wings: Visit the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.

Kraken: Host the Utah Mammoth on Thursday.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Seattle Kraken right wing Mackie Samoskevich (11) celebrates his goal with defenseman Brandon Montour, right, against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Detroit Red Wings goaltender Daniil Tarasov reacts after a goal by Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers (10) skates away with the puck as Detroit Red Wings center Andrew Copp (18) gets up after falling to the ice during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Kraken center Bobby McMann makes the game-winning goal during a shootout against the Detroit Red Wings in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

The Seattle Kraken celebrate after beating the Detroit Red Wings in a shootout in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)