In the NBA preseason, there will be a matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The game is scheduled for the night of Tuesday, October 8, with a tip-off at 2:00 AM Central European Time. The prediction for this match is provided by Dailysports experts.
San Antonio Spurs
Under the guidance of Gregg Popovich, the team will continue to focus on developing young talent. However, after struggles in the previous season, the team is now expected to deliver different results.
The main star will still be Victor Wembanyama, who performed impressively during the Summer Olympics and helped the French team reach the final.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder continue to build their young and ambitious team led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Oklahoma City has gathered a wealth of young talent, including Josh Giddey and Chet Holmgren.
The preseason games will provide the coaching staff with the opportunity to assess player interactions and test various tactical schemes ahead of the regular season.
Match Facts
- The Spurs won the Summer League’s Small Final in Las Vegas this summer.
- Oklahoma had a disappointing summer, winning only one out of five games.
- The Spurs average 123 points per game at home, while the Thunder average 105 points per game on the road.
Players to Watch
Victor Wembanyama has gained valuable experience and will try to lead the team in the new season. Under the guidance of their legendary coach, San Antonio should at least put up a fight for a playoff spot.
Head-to-Head
In the last ten encounters, Oklahoma has a significant edge, winning eight games to the Spurs' two victories.
Prediction
Both teams are in the process of rebuilding and developing young stars. The main focus will be on the individual performances of rookies and young leaders. Preseason games are often unpredictable due to various experiments with lineups. My bet is on a total score of under 227.5 points.