Then, in the nightcap, Victor Wembanyama made his return from injury and led the Spurs to a 111-109 win over the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder, sustaining their second loss of the season. Wembanyama scored 22 points and grabbed nine boards in 21 minutes.

Preparing for the NBA Cup, Gilgeous-Alexander had quite a handful of notable quotes from what he was asked at the December extravaganza. It's one thing for pundits and fans to wonder if the Thunder could make history with the absurd amount of wins they get. It's another to hear OKC's franchise superstar fully embrace those talks.