Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson defied Popovich’s sacred principle to beat Thunder 111-109, and it worked perfectly

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson made his boldest statement yet in his first season leading San Antonio, orchestrating an upset 111-109 victory over the NBA’s best team, Oklahoma City Thunder, on Saturday in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas. The win sent shockwaves through the league and propelled the Spurs into Tuesday’s championship game against the New York Knicks.

Wembanyama’s Triumphant Return Changes Everything

Playing in only his second game since suffering a calf injury nearly a month ago, Victor Wembanyama came off the bench and delivered a masterclass in fourth-quarter execution. The All-Star center started the game on the sideline, sitting out the first quarter to preserve his legs under strict minute restrictions imposed by the Spurs medical staff.

Johnson made the unconventional decision to keep Wembanyama out until the second quarter, then reduce his floor time through three quarters. This allowed the 7-foot-4 star to shoulder a heavier defensive load in the crucial final frame. With the game hanging in the balance, Wembanyama dominated, scoring 15 points in nine minutes and demonstrating his transformative impact on both ends of the court.

“We basically played a 12-minute game and then a 36-minute game,” Johnson explained post-game. “Not sure how logical it is, but that’s the cards we were dealt and how we played him, and I thought he did a phenomenal job of impacting the game without having to score.”

Johnson’s Bold Coaching Decision Defies Popovich Precedent

In perhaps the most controversial yet pivotal moment of the game, Mitch Johnson asserted his identity as a head coach distinct from his legendary predecessor. With the Spurs holding a three-point lead in the final seconds, Johnson instructed his team to intentionally foul the Thunder players—a decision that violated one of Gregg Popovich’s sacred principles.

“Operating by the mantra ‘the Spurs play defense, they don’t foul,’ Popovich famously loathed sending opponents to the free-throw line in the final seconds,” yet Johnson did exactly this three times in the last eight ticks. The strategy worked flawlessly, with the Spurs’ elite defensive rebounding and Wembanyama’s presence in the paint allowing them to control the glass despite the Thunder’s free-throw attempts.

“With the circumstances of the game, it was something we wanted to do in terms of the timeouts were starting to go and we felt comfortable with our defensive rebounding,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot of opinions there. But, yeah, that’s something we executed well tonight.”

Thunder’s Historic Winning Streak Comes to Abrupt End

Team	Final Score	Key Stat
San Antonio Spurs	111	Devin Vassell 23 points
Oklahoma City Thunder	109	Record 24-2
Location	T-Mobile Arena	December 13, 2025
Significance	NBA Cup Semifinal	Streak Snapped: 16-0

The Oklahoma City Thunder entered Saturday undefeated in their tournament run, sitting atop the NBA with a 24-2 season record. Their franchise-record 16-game winning streak represented the longest run of success in franchise history, dating back to the team’s relocation to Oklahoma City in 2008. The Thunder held the best record in the league and appeared to be the tournament’s clear favorite heading into the semifinals.

However, the Spurs’ defensive intensity in the fourth quarter proved overwhelming. Oklahoma City’s stars, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, found themselves unable to generate the offensive rhythm that had carried them through the regular season. The Thunder managed just 109 points in a tightly contested matchup, their lowest output in three weeks.

Johnson’s Steady Hand in First Season Proves Transformative

Mitch Johnson, named the Spurs’ 19th head coach in May 2025, has navigated unprecedented adversity in his inaugural season. After taking over as acting coach when Gregg Popovich suffered a stroke during last season’s opening week, Johnson guided the team through a challenging 34-48 campaign. The promotion to permanent head coach signaled the organization’s confidence in the 39-year-old former Stanford point guard.

This season, Johnson has led the Spurs to an impressive 18-7 record despite extended stretches without Wembanyama due to injuries. His decision-making, player development, and creative game management—evidenced by his unconventional handling of Wembanyama’s minutes and his controversial fouling strategy—have earned widespread praise from across the NBA.

“I trust in Mitch a hundred percent. Mitch was my player development coach when I first got here, so me and him have an even better connection than the outside sees. But we all trust him. He’s the brains of all of this.”

— Devin Vassell, Spurs Guard (23 points)

What’s Next: Spurs Face Knicks in Championship Showdown?

The Spurs now advance to Tuesday night’s NBA Cup Championship game against the New York Knicks, who earlier defeated the Orlando Magic 132-120 in the other semifinal. The championship game remains scheduled for December 16 in Las Vegas, with significant implications for both franchises heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

Wembanyama’s return puts the Spurs in an entirely different position than they were just four days ago. Johnson will need to balance the star center’s recovery with the intensity required for a championship matchup. The coach’s willingness to innovate and trust his instincts—from minute management to in-game strategy—suggests San Antonio enters the final as legitimate championship contenders, a remarkable turnaround from their second-half struggles last season.

Sources

• San Antonio Express-News – In-depth analysis of Mitch Johnson’s coaching decisions and first-season performance
• NBA Official Records – Game statistics, final score verification, and tournament bracket information
• ESPN/USA Today – Real-time coverage and post-game analysis of the NBA Cup semifinals