NBA Cup semifinal is just the first of many big Spurs-Thunder games

The NBA Cup semifinal matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs could end up being a playoff preview — for many years to come.

The Thunder blew out the Phoenix Suns, 138-89, on Wednesday, while the Spurs torched the Los Angeles Lakers defense in a 132-119 win, setting up a meeting of the 24-1 Thunder and the 17-7 Spurs. If the season ended today, these two could be looking at a second-round matchup. And if the Spurs' young talent continues to deliver, these teams could be battling for Western Conference supremacy the rest of the decade.

Spurs' young core could match Thunder in time

The Thunder have three young stars in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. While no one in the NBA can do what SGA, the reigning MVP, can do, the Spurs do have a dynamic scoring guard of their own in De'Aaron Fox, who is averaging 24 PPG this season. Holmgren is a better outside shooter than Victor Wembanyama, though no one can match Wemby defensively.

There's no one to the level of All-NBA forward Jalen Williams on the Spurs roster — yet. But reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle has improved his scoring to 18.2 PPG while shooting 50 percent from the floor, while providing tough defense. Then there's No. 2 pick Dylan Harper, another big guard with sky-high potential.

The team was good enough to beat the star-laden Lakers without Wembanyama. In fact, the Spurs have gone 9-3 since Wembanyama went out with a calf strain, a testament to their depth.