Bold takeaway: the Thunder’s dominance in the NBA Cup is undeniable, as they humiliated Phoenix and booked a semifinal spot in Las Vegas. But the night isn’t done—LA and San Antonio battle for a chance to join OKC, with lingering questions about paint defense and matchup strategies that could swing the result. Here’s a clear, beginner-friendly rewrite that preserves all key information, adds context, and keeps the energetic, editorial tone.
NBA Cup score and live updates: Lakers host Spurs; Thunder roll past Suns
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Follow the action as San Antonio and Los Angeles collide, aiming to join Oklahoma City in the NBA Cup semifinals.
The Athletic Live Team and more
December 10, 2025 at 10:28 PM EST
NBA Cup quarterfinals — Latest
Los Angeles is hosting San Antonio in the NBA Cup quarterfinals after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder routed Phoenix to secure a trip to Las Vegas.
Follow our writers for play-by-play and analysis of the Spurs–Lakers matchup.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 28 points, while Chet Holmgren added 24 in the Thunder’s 138–89 demolition of the Suns. Dillon Brooks led Phoenix with 16 points in a game where Devin Booker was unavailable. Grayson Allen of Phoenix was ejected in the second half following a flagrant 2 foul.
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Q1 5:20 — Lakers 18, Spurs 17
Stephon Castle picked up his second foul and headed to the bench for a spell.
Q1 5:20 — Lakers 18, Spurs 17
More minutes for Sochan at center? This could become a broadcast-friendly decision for the Spurs. If coach Mitch Johnson shifts Sochan into the five to counteract the Lakers’ size, San Antonio might start switching ball screens more aggressively to keep the paint protected.
Lakers’ early rhythm and paint play
Los Angeles jumped out to a 7–0 run, leveraging a combination of a Luka Dončić contact play and quick outlet passes to attack the paint. LeBron James and Deandre Ayton have both finished plays with that approach. A mandatory timeout followed when Castle connected with a field goal that briefly halted Dončić’s momentum.
Ayton’s smooth read game
The Lakers have found a more reliable rhythm in pick-and-rolls with Deandre Ayton, especially in the short roll. His touch in that area has become a potent weapon for ball movement and finishing at the rim.
Q1 6:54 — Lakers 15, Spurs 11
A Dončić three-point attempt rims out, and Castle responds with a layup plus a foul on the other end, swinging the early tempo in favor of offense.
Q1 9:22 — Lakers 11, Spurs 7
These teams are scoring at a high clip early. Dončić works into the short midrange for a float and a foul on Castle, converting the free throw to push LA ahead by four.
Paint protection question for the Lakers
A key strategic question for the Lakers is how they’ll limit San Antonio’s paint opportunities. Although Marcus Smart can help, the Spurs’ drivers will test how quickly Reaves and Dončić meet ball-handlers at contact.
Q1 11:11 — Lakers 2, Spurs 0
LeBron James opens the scoring with a smooth one-leg fadeaway from 15 feet.
Tipoff in LA
Q1 12:00 — Spurs 0, Lakers 0
Los Angeles wins the tip and the second quarterfinal of the night is underway.
Commentator note
A minor on-air slip from Ian Eagle referred to the Lakers’ coach as “JJ Watt”—a playful mix-up with NFL analyst partner Jason Wil—just a momentary gaffe amid the live action.
Remaining matchup optimism
While tonight’s Spurs–Lakers tilt is highly anticipated, expectations for the other quarterfinal are tempered by the Lakers’ pursuit of a comeback win that would mirror OKC’s dominant performance.
Thunder’s blockbuster win over Suns
The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their title defense push with a 138–89 thrashing of Phoenix. They led by as many as 53 points and moved to 24–1 on the season, advancing to the NBA Cup semifinals where they’ll face the winner of the Spurs–Lakers game.
With this win, OKC matched a historic level of excellence, drawing parallels to the 2015–16 Golden State Warriors who started 25–0 en route to a 73-win season. Still, the Thunder remain focused on the moment rather than chasing historical milestones.
The Suns were without Devin Booker, sidelined for a third straight game with a right groin strain, leaving Phoenix short on firepower and unable to threaten OKC’s top-ranked defense.
OKC built a 26-point halftime lead and never looked back, extending the advantage to 53 late in the fourth after Branden Carlson slammed home an alley-oop with 4:10 remaining. Gilgeous-Alexander watched the final horn from the bench, resting in preparation for a potential Cup run in Vegas.
This 16th straight win marks a franchise record and solidifies OKC’s status as a championship contender in the current format, where two wins in Las Vegas would crown a Cup champion for 2025.
Holmgren’s all-around impact
Chet Holmgren delivered a efficient night on both ends: 24 points on 9-for-13 shooting, 4-for-4 from three, eight rebounds, two assists, and three blocks in 25 minutes. He’s been pivotal to OKC’s balanced attack and overall defensive steadiness.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s efficiency
SGA led the way with 28 points on 11-for-15 shooting, plus eight assists, two steals, and a block in a compact 27-minute showing. His scoring approach remains smooth and efficient, enabling the Thunder to pace themselves while still delivering high-impact numbers.
Thunder advance to NBA Cup semifinals
Final score: Thunder 138, Suns 89
This result encapsulates a performance that was as comprehensive as it gets. Oklahoma City advances to the Cup semifinals and will await the victor of the Spurs–Lakers clash.
Q4 1:47 — Thunder 138, Suns 87
In garbage time, Ousmane Dieng found his rhythm with a 32-foot make, finishing with 11 points in 10 minutes.
How these results shape the narrative
Tonight’s outcomes sharpen the picture for the Cup semifinals: OKC is Vegas-bound, while LA and San Antonio will fight for the other slot. The emphasis on paint efficiency, transition opportunities, and disciplined defense will be the difference makers as teams navigate the next round.
Would you prefer this recap to include more tactical breakdowns, or would you like additional player-by-player highlights and substitutions of note? Also, which matchup intrigues you most for the semifinals—OKC’s all-around balance or a potential Lakers–Spurs tilt built on speed and mismatches?
