Why Kendrick Perkins believes OKC’s Christmas game at Spurs is necessary

Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins believes that Oklahoma City Thunder face a critical psychological test on Christmas when they host the San Antonio Spursframing the matchup as a must-win despite Oklahoma City’s status as the defending champions.

Perkins shared his assessment on ESPN’s Get Up on Thursday, highlighting confidence, momentum and postseason implications as central reasons the Thunder must respond against a Spurs team that has repeatedly made them uncomfortable.

“I understand the psychology and I know we’re talking about defending champions, but Oklahoma City has to win. We haven’t seen a team like this in what? For over a year and a half, it’s made Oklahoma City uncomfortable, and then on top of that they’re talking about it and throwing it in their face, so when you look on the periphery, big guard Sanawing has It’s time for OKC to make a statement Every time you get a chance to boost your confidence and kill another team’s confidence, now the Spurs are ninth in the Western Conference, they they feel confident that they can go into the series and beat you, and you want to have confidence. I think it’s a must-win for Oklahoma City.

“You want to kill that confidence, and if you’re SGA, you want to have that chip on your shoulder.”@KendrickPerkins says today #NBAXmas the match is a MUST WIN for the Thunder 👀 pic.twitter.com/niP68Skmca

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) December 25, 2025

Kendrick Perkins calls the Thunder-Spurs Christmas matchup a must-see

The urgency Perkins described is rooted in recent results. Oklahoma City and San Antonio have already met multiple times this season, with the Spurs winning both matches. San Antonio beat the Thunder 111-109 in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas on December 13 before being followed by a 130-110 win Tuesday night in San Antonio. Those performances boosted the Spurs’ confidence and increased their control over Oklahoma City’s response.

The Christmas Day game kicks off at 2:30 PM ET and airs nationally on ABC and ESPN, putting the Thunder in the holiday window. The scene also has historical significance for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, set to pull off a rare feat not seen since LeBron James in 2013 — became the first reigning NBA MVP and Finals MVP to play on Christmas Day since James did it with the Miami Heat.

For Oklahoma City, the game represents a measuring moment after last season’s championship. Perkins suggested that allowing San Antonio to dictate terms again could have long-lasting psychological effects, especially as both teams battle for position at the top of the Western Conference.

While December’s outcome won’t determine the championship, Perkins presented the matchup as an opportunity to reassert control, upset a surging rival’s confidence and restore the Thunder’s comfort level. With previous losses, national attention and historical context looming, Oklahoma City’s response against San Antonio is positioned to resonate well beyond the Christmas stage.