Big games from Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama will have Thunder, Spurs dreaming

Spurs center Wembanyama scored 18 points and looked smooth as he attacked the basket, hit jump shots and showed his overall offensive game as San Antonio built an 81-74 halftime lead. Wembanyama was 7-of-9 from the field, making 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.

He drove into the paint and drew an and-one against Holmgren in the first, then flexing on him afterward.

Thunder center Holmgren, meanwhile, saw his first preseason action after missing the entire 2022-23 season following a Lisfranc injury to his right foot during a Pro-Am event. 

He outscored Wembanyama in the first half, finishing with 21 points and nine rebounds on 7-of-10 shooting, including makes on his two three-point attempts. 

He also threw down a nice lob from Jalen Williams with Zach Collins defending him.

San Antonio was among the worst teams in the league last year, giving it great odds of winning the draft lottery, which it did. It will try to duplicate Oklahoma City's 2022-23 turnaround this season. 

Last year, the Thunder reached the play-in tournament and was a win away from qualifying for the playoffs. That came after the team finished 24-58 in 2021-22, the fourth-worst record in the league.

Wembanyama's sensational start will increase the excitement in San Antonio that the team can quickly contend. As for Holmgren, his great game will likely have the Thunder believing this season will be even better than last year.

As good as both were on Monday, San Antonio and Oklahoma City have every reason to dream big.