

The San Antonio Spurs (1-3) seek to conclude their NBA preseason play on a high note in their matchup against the rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder (2-1) on Thursday.
After losing their initial three preseason outings, the Spurs achieved their first victory with a 111-104 win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday. Keldon Johnson and Josh Primo both returned from injuries that kept them sidelined for the team's prior outings.
Against the Jazz, Devin Vassell scored a game-high 24 points while shooting an efficient 10-15 from the floor and 3-5 from beyond the arc. He formed an impressive one-two punch next to Johnson as he added an efficient 22 points of his own. Both played only 22 minutes and certainly made the most of it.
“The starting group did a wonderful job in executing, competing,” Popovich said. “It’s what it takes. They played together, and there were a lot of good things on both ends. ... Saw a lot of maturity out on the court.”
Johnson, the Spurs' top returning scorer from 2021-22, told reporters post-game that he's feeling great and is excited to be back out there on the floor with his teammates. Many are expecting another noticeable progression from him this season.
“I felt good,” Johnson said. “I was just happy to be back out there with my teammates after watching them through camp and barely getting to go up and down with them.”
The Thunder roster features many exciting young players, but the team has played without Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander due to injuries. They are still led by talents like Josh Giddey, Tre Mann, Luguentz, and Jalen Williams among others.
San Antonio Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
San Antonio Spurs
Check back with InsideTheSpurs.com for post-game coverage of this matchup.
You can follow Grant Afseth on Twitter at @GrantAfseth.
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Spurs? Click here.
Follow Inside The Spurs on Facebook here.
Follow Inside the Spurs on Twitter @InsideTheSpurs.