Spurs’ Devin Vassell talks response to Thunder’s physicality

It’s no secret that the Oklahoma City Thunder play with a physical brand of basketball. They’ve embraced this bruising identity, that sometimes they get away with the kind of physical contact that toes the line between legal and illegal. There have certainly been stretches in their Western Conference Finals clash against the San Antonio Spurs where this has been the difference-maker for the Thunder.

But the Spurs have never been the kind of team to back down; despite their youth, they are rising to the challenge of pushing back against the mighty Thunder. In Game 4, it was the Spurs’ turn to flex their elite defense, holding OKC to just 33 percent shooting from the field in a 103-82 victory on Sunday night.

After the game, Spurs wing Devin Vassell spoke with SportsCenter and revealed how the team is responding to the Thunder’s brute force with the series now knotted up at 2-2.

“Just being ultra aggressive. I think they’re super physical; they get away with a lot, we try to use that against them, too. We’re trying to be ultra physical. Beat them up, speed them up. Cause turnovers and get out in transition,” Vassell said.

"I think they're super physical; they get away with a lot, we try to use that against them, too. We're trying to be ultra physical."

Devin Vassel on playing against the Thunder

(via @SportsCenter)pic.twitter.com/0lCk70p5kC

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 25, 2026

Some fans are certainly frustrated towards the Thunder for their occasional dirty play, and OKC definitely makes it a focus of theirs to try and push the limits of allowable contact. But Vassell knows that this is simply part of the game, and the Spurs have to roll up their sleeve and simply try to get down and dirty as well.

“Look, it’s the NBA playoffs. They get away with it. We get away with it. They can’t call everything,” Vassell added.

In a seven-game series against an elite team, it’s not a good thing to get carried away with a single victory. The Spurs have to continue bringing in the effort and physicality and not allow the Thunder to get comfortable, especially with the series shifting back to the road.

The post Spurs’ Devin Vassell talks response to Thunder’s physicality appeared first on ClutchPoints.