Spurs vs Thunder Free Pick, NBA Free Picks, NBA Predictions 1/13/26
- J.A. Cavalier
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
SAN ANTONIO @ OKLAHOMA CITY (OKC -7.5, 229.5)
NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS
SPURS @ THUNDER 1/13/26
The San Antonio Spurs have Victor Wembanyama back in the starting lineup. Tonights's road game between Wembanyama and the Spurs and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder features two of the best players and the top two teams in the Western Conference.
Wembanyama made his first appearance in the starting lineup since December 31 in Sunday's 104-103 loss to Minnesota. In 27 minutes, he scored 29 points.
After recovering from a calf issue in December, the 2023–24 Rookie of the Year joined San Antonio off the bench. At the end of the month, he made three starts before missing two games due to a hyperextended knee.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said the discussion about Wembanyama's starting status is "a constant conversation." "... He wants to start, he wants to finish, he wants to play 48 (minutes) and we've somehow got to figure out how to keep him happy and still play organically and help the team and do what's right."
Three of Oklahoma City's seven losses this season have been to the Spurs, all of which occurred within a 13-day period in December. San Antonio has had a 4-5 record since then.
Young guards Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle have struggled offensively, which has contributed to the Spurs' recent problems. Together, Castle and Harper have only shot 33.2% from the field and 17.5% from beyond the 3-point line in those nine games.
"Part of it is they're missing some good shots, part of it ... is they've just got to learn the balance of what this game calls upon when you have the basketball in your hands a lot, whether that's being aggressive, whether that's understanding time and score, whether that's on-time, on-target passes to your teammates, whether that's getting the ball out of your hands early," Johnson stated. "They simply have to go through certain things. It's the same as when the box scores were full and they were soaring high in step. When you're 21 and 19 in this league, that's just part of the bargain.
The Thunder have recently struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 25% from beyond the arc in their last four games, while Oklahoma City has gone 7-2 since their loss to the Spurs on Christmas Day.
In its three losses to San Antonio, Oklahoma City only made 28.8% of its three-point attempts, including 11 of 44 in the 117-102 defeat on December 25.
The problem is a challenge for his team, according to Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. He claimed that, compared to earlier in the season when shots were falling at higher percentages, he has recently been even happier with Oklahoma City's shooting selection.
"You're going to go through stretches of games and of the season where you're getting good shots that aren't falling, you're going through stretches of the season where your opponents are shooting higher than their expectation and we try to see it as a mental battle and a challenge that we have to overcome," Daigneault stated. "... It's a test of your trust in each other and your conviction in what you're doing."
The Thunder have won three straight games going into Tuesday's match, most recently defeating Miami 124-112 at home on Sunday.
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FREE PICK
GAME TOTAL UNDER 229.5
If you look at this series this season, the game total in this matchup has closed between 233.5 and 235.5 in each of the three games. Tonight’s total opened at 232 and has been bet down to its current 229.5. Both these teams can score, but the statistical profile leans toward the Under. OKC is the best defense in the league. They are No. 1 in transition frequency allowed and second in points allowed per play in the half-court. The Thunder rank first in 2PT FG% and overall FG% as well as points allowed per game (108.4). OKC will contest every shot. They rank No. 6 in blocked shots and they are No. 1 in turnover percentage. With triple revenge, OKC squeezes the life out of the Spurs at home. The Under has cashed in each of the last 6 Spurs games and in 5 of the last 7 between these two.
