Basketball is a game of runs, but the Nets vs spurs last game was more like a fever dream of momentum shifts. If you missed the October 26, 2025 matchup, you missed one of the most chaotic nights of the early season.
The San Antonio Spurs walked away with a 118-107 victory, moving to a perfect 3-0. But the final score hides the fact that the Brooklyn Nets almost pulled off one of the gutsiest comebacks in recent memory.
The Spurs looked like world-beaters early on. They were playing with a specific kind of confidence, fueled by a pre-game banner unveiling for Gregg Popovich. It wasn't a flashy ceremony—Pop doesn't do flashy—but the energy in the Frost Bank Center was undeniable.
The Wembanyama Effect and the 26-Point Lead
Victor Wembanyama is no longer just a prospect; he's a defensive ecosystem. In this game, he was everywhere. He finished with 31 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 blocks.
Honestly, it’s the blocks that demoralize you.
Brooklyn players would drive into the paint, see the shadow of a 7'4" giant, and suddenly their layup looked like a terrible idea. By the nine-minute mark of the third quarter, the Spurs were up 81-55.
Twenty-six points.
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At that point, most people were probably checking their phones or heading for the exits. The Nets looked finished. They were winless, they looked tired, and they couldn't buy a stop.
Cam Thomas and the "Pure Scorer" Paradox
Then Cam Thomas decided to happen.
If you follow the Nets, you know the Cam Thomas experience. It’s high-volume, high-octane, and occasionally frustrating because the man simply does not believe in the "pass" button. He finished the game with 40 points.
He also finished with zero assists. Literally none.
It’s almost impressive to have the ball that much and never once have it lead to a teammate's bucket. But you can't argue with the production. Thomas went 13-of-13 from the free-throw line and hit five triples.
He got some help from Michael Porter Jr., who added 16, but this was the Cam Thomas show. He suffered a cut over his eye late in the second quarter, bled a bit, went to the locker room, and came back like a man possessed.
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Brooklyn went on a 26-7 run to close the third.
By the start of the fourth, a Jalen Wilson three-pointer actually gave the Nets a 90-89 lead. They had erased a 26-point deficit against an unbeaten team on the road. It was absurd.
The Rookie Who Sealed the Deal
While everyone focuses on Wemby, the real story of the closing minutes was Dylan Harper.
The rookie didn't look like a rookie. He dropped 20 points, with seven of those coming in the final frame when the Nets were threatening to steal the game. He hit a couple of cold-blooded jumpers that quelled the Brooklyn rally.
The Spurs closed the game on a 10-0 run.
Brooklyn just ran out of gas. When you spend that much energy climbing out of a twenty-point hole, you usually don't have anything left for the summit. The Nets fell to 0-3, while San Antonio celebrated their best start in over half a decade.
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Key Stats from Nets vs Spurs (October 26, 2025)
- Final Score: Spurs 118, Nets 107
- Victor Wembanyama: 31 PTS, 14 REB, 6 BLK, 4 AST
- Cam Thomas: 40 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 11-25 FG
- Dylan Harper: 20 PTS (8-11 FG)
- Nic Claxton: 10 PTS, 5 REB (staggering -25 plus/minus)
Why This Game Matters for the Rest of the Season
For the Spurs, this confirmed that their depth is improving. They won this game without De'Aaron Fox, Jeremy Sochan, or Kelly Olynyk. Being able to withstand a massive comeback attempt from a scoring machine like Thomas shows a level of poise that wasn't there two years ago.
For the Nets, it's a bit of a "good news, bad news" situation. The good news? They have a guy who can get 40 on anyone's head. The bad news? The defense is porous, and the offense becomes too stagnant when Thomas is hunting his shot.
Jordi Fernandez has a lot of work to do on the defensive rotations. You can't give up 38 points in a single quarter (the second) and expect to win in the NBA.
If you're looking for actionable takeaways from this matchup, keep a close eye on Dylan Harper's Rookie of the Year odds. His efficiency—shooting 8-of-11 while the lights were brightest—suggests he's going to be a mainstay in the Spurs' closing lineups. Also, if you’re playing fantasy, Cam Thomas is a "sell high" candidate; the 40-point nights are great, but the lack of peripheral stats and the potential for benching if his efficiency dips make him a risky hold.
The next time these two meet, expect the Nets to double-team Wembanyama much earlier. Letting him get comfortable in the first half was the mistake that built the lead they couldn't quite overcome.