Oklahoma City @ San Antonio preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 7, 2019 ) Oklahoma City 112, San Antonio 121

The streaking Oklahoma City Thunder look for their fourth straight victory and eighth in the past nine games when they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. But Oklahoma City could find it tough sledding in the opener of a four-game road trip as it has dropped nine straight games in San Antonio.

The Thunder pulled out a 106-101 home triumph over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday as they overcame a seven-point deficit with 2:57 remaining by closing with a 14-2 surge. "The really good teams in our league, the last four, five minutes is when you really lock down and tighten up. That's what we did," point guard Chris Paul said after the victory. "We've got to figure out how to put a whole game together, but I'm happy with what we've been doing." The Spurs have gone 7-4 after a 7-14 start and they ended 2019 on a good note with a 117-113 overtime win over the visiting Golden State Warriors. "We're just trying to stay in the moment," San Antonio power forward LaMarcus Aldridge said after the win. "Watch film and see the things that we need to keep doing better and focus on them and just build from there."

TIME: 8:30 p.m. ET. TV: FS Oklahoma, FS Southwest

ABOUT THE THUNDER (18-15): Paul scored 13 of his 17 points against Dallas in the final stanza and he also had eight rebounds and seven assists. "Chris is great at managing the game. That is one of his gifts," Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters. "He knows everything that is going on. He showcased it (Tuesday night). I think in the first three quarters he was feeling them out until the fourth quarter." Gilgeous-Alexander did his part as well by scoring 19 points and collecting a season-best 10 rebounds.

ABOUT THE SPURS (14-18): Shooting guard DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points on 11-of-18 shooting against Golden State to top 20 for the fifth straight game. DeRozan is averaging 24.8 points during the span and is a scorching 51-of-74 from the field, a 68.9 percent clip. Aldridge recorded 17 points and 12 rebounds for his second straight double-double and he has scored in double figures in 21 straight games and also had blocked 20 shots over the past eight contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Aldridge scored 39 points as the Spurs notched a 121-112 home win over the Thunder on Nov. 7.

2. San Antonio backup guard Patty Mills was 5-of-11 from 3-point range against the Warriors after being 6-of-21 over the previous four games.

3. Oklahoma City F Danilo Gallinari (ankle) scored 20 points against Dallas after missing the previous four games.

PREDICTION: Spurs 107, Thunder 104