

Broadcast Information

Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. CT

7:30 p.m. CT Television: Fox Sports Oklahoma

Fox Sports Oklahoma Radio: WWLS the Sports Animal and the Thunder Radio Network

SAN ANTONIO – Some of Russell Westbrook’s teammates – Alex Abrines, Domas Sabonis and Semaj Christon in particular – have never faced off against the San Antonio Spurs in their careers.

For Westbrook however, this latest meeting against Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich’s club is yet another installment in a five-year rivalry for the Thunder with its central Texas foe. So while some of the Thunder’s rookies might not know exactly what it feels like to compete against Popovich’s steady, balanced, selfless attack, Westbrook knows exactly what to expect systematically.

“As long as they have the same coach, everybody is going to play the same or they’re not going to play,” Westbrook quipped. “They know what they’re doing, everybody is in the right spots and they’re unselfish.”

“You’re always trying to play to a system. There are things that every coach believes in in terms of how they want their teams to play,” Thunder Head Coach Billy Donovan further explained. “They may need to do different things in terms of trying to take advantage of your personnel, but there are still some fundamental beliefs of how you want to play the game. Although both teams have changed, they certainly they want to do systematically a lot of things that have made them successful.

With Kawhi Leonard emerging as the top dog in San Antonio with veterans in Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol following in line, the Spurs have a challenging attack to defend. Donovan listed pick and roll coverage, post defense, rebounding, getting out to shooters and containing the basketball as the primary objectives tonight. You know, just a short list of basically everything.

“Anytime you’re playing against a really good team, you have to do a multitude of things,” Donovan said.

“You have to have a sense of urgency,” Westbrook said. “They’re a good team, they move the basketball very well and play well at home, so you have to be ready to play.”

The Thunder has to be disciplined in its coverages, has to communicate properly and must close out to shooters while using its length, speed and athleticism to clog up the lane. Two nights after facing the NBA’s reigning champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Thunder now has to face one of the premier organizations in NBA history, a team with which it battled for six games last season in the Western Conference Semifinals. It should make for a juicy matchup, especially considering it concludes the Thunder’s extended road stretch.

Before it heads home to take on Chicago on Wednesday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena, it sure would be nice to hop onto the plane with a victory.

Thunder big men at work in San Antonio. #ThunderUp #gameday A photo posted by Oklahoma City Thunder (@okcthunder) on Jan 31, 2017 at 10:25am PST