Victor Wembanyama’s Comeback Topples Thunder – Spurs Redefine NBA Battle Lines

Paul Riverbank, 12/14/2025Victor Wembanyama’s electrifying return powered the Spurs past the red-hot Thunder, while the US women’s hockey team swept Canada, signaling fresh momentum and stirring anticipation for both basketball and Olympic ice hockey showdowns.

Yet, somehow, the whole night seemed to tilt when Wembanyama checked in. His stat line reads like a debutante’s calling card—22 points, nine rebounds in 21 short minutes. But numbers didn’t tell the whole story. Each time he got the ball, a hush, or something close to it, settled in, building to those “M-V-P” chants that reverberated through the stands. The scoreboard fluttered, the Thunder—so used to dictating terms—finding themselves off-kilter. The Spurs weren’t just trading baskets; they were feeding off that return, sneaking in a 13-0 run as halftime loomed.

Devin Vassell snuck in 23 points, De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle making sure the momentum never fully swung away. What’s telling: in just the seven minutes Wembanyama played in the second quarter, the Spurs outscored OKC by 20. Time limits or not, his fingerprints were everywhere.

The Thunder threw everything back at them—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doing the heavy lifting with 29, Holmgren and Williams putting up a fight—but that extra charge just wasn’t there. Remember: this was supposed to be just another tick in their win column. Instead, it felt like the script had been yanked away, rewritten in French ink.

Next up, improbably, the Spurs face the Knicks for the NBA Cup. If you’d predicted that matchup a few weeks ago, you probably would’ve earned some side glances. Now? Anything feels possible, especially with Wembanyama back in the fold.

But it wasn’t just basketball serving surprises this weekend. Over on the ice, the U.S. women’s hockey team delivered a statement—no ambiguity there—sweeping Canada in the Rivalry Series. The Americans didn’t just win; they dominated, outscoring their old rivals 24-7 in the series. Aerin Frankel, cool under pressure, batted away 23 Canadian shots, and players like Caroline Harvey and Laila Edwards took turns finding the net. Taylor Heise's two assists stitched things together. Even when Canada’s Brianne Jenner managed to tie things up shortly after Harvey’s opener, Edwards netted the go-ahead only minutes later. Tough, relentless, clinical.

And there’s more at stake than just bragging rights. With the Olympics in Milan looming, these contests take on a sharper edge. The atmosphere, tense already, will only thicken when the two meet again for medals rather than momentum.

Both of these victories—on hardwood and ice—hinted at possibilities. For the Spurs, a glimpse of what the future could hold; for the U.S. women’s hockey team, confirmation that the gap between them and their fiercest rival might be widening. One thing’s certain: as fans file out or tune off, expectations are upended, and, for now, hope—perhaps even swagger—has a new lease on life.

On a chilly Saturday night in Las Vegas, the energy inside the arena was nothing short of electric—and not just because a basketball game was being played. Victor Wembanyama, who’d spent the last dozen games on the sidelines nursing a strained calf, had only just shed his warmups before a ripple of anticipation notched up to a roar. The Spurs, notorious underdogs lately, found themselves up against the kind of juggernaut that comes around once in a blue moon: Oklahoma City, carrying a steamrolling, 16-game win streak. For context, they’d barely stumbled all season—just twice before Saturday.Yet, somehow, the whole night seemed to tilt when Wembanyama checked in. His stat line reads like a debutante’s calling card—22 points, nine rebounds in 21 short minutes. But numbers didn’t tell the whole story. Each time he got the ball, a hush, or something close to it, settled in, building to those “M-V-P” chants that reverberated through the stands. The scoreboard fluttered, the Thunder—so used to dictating terms—finding themselves off-kilter. The Spurs weren’t just trading baskets; they were feeding off that return, sneaking in a 13-0 run as halftime loomed.Devin Vassell snuck in 23 points, De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle making sure the momentum never fully swung away. What’s telling: in just the seven minutes Wembanyama played in the second quarter, the Spurs outscored OKC by 20. Time limits or not, his fingerprints were everywhere.The Thunder threw everything back at them—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doing the heavy lifting with 29, Holmgren and Williams putting up a fight—but that extra charge just wasn’t there. Remember: this was supposed to be just another tick in their win column. Instead, it felt like the script had been yanked away, rewritten in French ink.Next up, improbably, the Spurs face the Knicks for the NBA Cup. If you’d predicted that matchup a few weeks ago, you probably would’ve earned some side glances. Now? Anything feels possible, especially with Wembanyama back in the fold.But it wasn’t just basketball serving surprises this weekend. Over on the ice, the U.S. women’s hockey team delivered a statement—no ambiguity there—sweeping Canada in the Rivalry Series. The Americans didn’t just win; they dominated, outscoring their old rivals 24-7 in the series. Aerin Frankel, cool under pressure, batted away 23 Canadian shots, and players like Caroline Harvey and Laila Edwards took turns finding the net. Taylor Heise's two assists stitched things together. Even when Canada’s Brianne Jenner managed to tie things up shortly after Harvey’s opener, Edwards netted the go-ahead only minutes later. Tough, relentless, clinical.And there’s more at stake than just bragging rights. With the Olympics in Milan looming, these contests take on a sharper edge. The atmosphere, tense already, will only thicken when the two meet again for medals rather than momentum.Both of these victories—on hardwood and ice—hinted at possibilities. For the Spurs, a glimpse of what the future could hold; for the U.S. women’s hockey team, confirmation that the gap between them and their fiercest rival might be widening. One thing’s certain: as fans file out or tune off, expectations are upended, and, for now, hope—perhaps even swagger—has a new lease on life.