All articles tagged with #okc thunder
Ajay Mitchell is ruled out for Game 4 with a right calf strain, and Jalen Williams is questionable with a left hamstring as the Thunder battle the Spurs, forcing a deeper rotation and reliance on their bench to try to close the series.
Oklahoma City overcame a historic slow start to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 123-108 in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a productive bench providing the key spark to seize a 2-1 series advantage.
OKC used a franchise-record 76-point bench performance to flip an early Spurs run and take a 2-1 series lead, as Jared McCain scored 24, Jaylin Williams added 18 on five 3s, and Alex Caruso chipped in 15, while Victor Wembanyama's highlights couldn't prevent San Antonio's depth from being overwhelmed.
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the San Antonio Spurs 123-108 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals to take a 2-1 series lead, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 26 points and 12 assists, and a 24-point, 10-of-21 bench effort from Jared McCain. OKC's reserves outscored San Antonio 76-23, flipping momentum after an early deficit to build a halftime edge and never surrender the lead as Game 4 is set for Sunday in San Antonio.
The Oklahoma City Thunder came back from an early 15-0 deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 123-108 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, taking a 2-1 series lead. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posted 26 points and 12 assists, and OKC rode a dominant bench performance (76-23) led by Jared McCain's 24 and Jaylin Williams' 18. Victor Wembanyama had 26 for San Antonio, as SA tried to rally but the Thunder pulled away in the second half.
OKC’s bench carried the load in Game 3, outscoring San Antonio’s reserves 76-23 as Jared McCain dropped a playoff-career-high 24 points and Jaylin Williams added 18 in a 123-108 Thunder win to take a 2-1 series lead in the West Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 26 points and 12 assists with steady free-throw shooting, while Jalen Williams sat out with a hamstring reinjury and De’Aaron Fox returned for the Spurs. OKC limited Wembanyama to 26 points and 10 in the paint with multiple defenders, and the Thunder’s depth once again proved decisive ahead of Game 4 in San Antonio.
OKC edged San Antonio 122-113 to even the Western Conference finals at 1-1, with Isaiah Hartenstein’s physical defense on Victor Wembanyama disrupting the rookie after Game 1 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivering again; a hair-pulling incident by Hartenstein on Stephon Castle drew scrutiny, while Dylan Harper’s hamstring and Castle’s 20 turnovers underline San Antonio’s lineup issues as the series heads to Game 3.
Six trends will determine the Thunder–Spurs Western Conference finals: Stephon Castle’s unprecedented turnover burden; OKC’s stifling defense and backcourt disruption; Alex Caruso’s sharp corner 3s boosting OKC’s spacing; Victor Wembanyama’s on/off impact and Kornet’s minutes; a wave of injuries (Fox and Harper for San Antonio; Williams and Mitchell for OKC) complicating rotations; OKC’s frontcourt flexibility between Isiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren; and the officiating dynamic around Wembanyama that could influence the series’ tenor.
In a bruising Western Conference Finals that already feels like a chess match, the Thunder and Spurs sit at 1-1 as they adjust to Victor Wembanyama’s presence. Game 2 featured Oklahoma City’s physical, scheming approach led by Isaiah Hartenstein to disrupt Wembanyama, while San Antonio struggled with on-ball creation and turnover issues. Injuries to Jalen Williams, Dylan Harper, and Ajay Mitchell—plus uncertainty around De’Aaron Fox—add to the attrition and raise stakes as both teams recalibrate for the next games, turning this series into a psychological endurance test as much as a tactical duel.
OKC used relentless, physical defense and a few controversial sequences—plus some uncalled (or borderline) fouls—to beat the Spurs in Game 2 and even the Western Conference Finals at 1‑1. After a historic Game 1 from Victor Wembanyama, he faced heavy pressure and limited production in Game 2 as Hartenstein’s bodying and other aggressive tactics disrupted San Antonio’s offense, with the piece also noting flopping and a style that felt more football than basketball at times.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 30 to lift Oklahoma City to a 122-113 win over San Antonio, tying the West Finals at 1-1 as OKC’s depth shines and Isaiah Hartenstein slows Victor Wembanyama; the series heads to San Antonio for Games 3-4. In the East, the Knicks seek to carry momentum into Game 2 against the Cavaliers after a dramatic Game 1 rally, with Donovan Mitchell pacing Cleveland and New York’s defense continuing to shape the series, plus the NBA announced the 2025-26 All-Rookie First Team.
OKC used Isaiah Hartenstein to body up Victor Wembanyama, fouling him to slow him down, and it worked as Wembanyama scored 21 on 50% FG while growing frustrated by the contact. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander offered an awkward, non-committal assessment of Hart’s impact when asked, triggering debate over whether the strategy is fair or sustainable. The result sets up a fascinating dynamic for potential adjustments in the Western Conference Finals.
OKC defeated the Spurs 122-113 in Game 2, but the piece centers on refereeing and rough play, arguing Oklahoma City used dirty tactics to disrupt Victor Wembanyama and that referees let it go uncalled; Spurs missed open shots and faced injuries, with the author urging better protection for players and a fairer whistle in the series.
Thunder forward Jalen Williams and Spurs guard Dylan Harper exited Game 2 with hamstring injuries and will undergo MRIs to determine if there’s a re-injury. Williams’ left hamstring tightness, a strain he suffered earlier in the playoffs, could sideline him longer, while Harper’s right hamstring is also being evaluated. If Williams is out, Ajay Mitchell or Cason Wallace could see increased minutes for OKC; if Fox and Harper miss time, the Spurs may rely on Stephon Castle and Jordan McLaughlin, though Castle has struggled with turnovers. Davis coach updates are pending medical results.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earned his second straight Kia NBA MVP as the Thunder solidified a championship-caliber season, delivering 30+ PPG with efficiency and clutch play while praising his teammates, coach, and Oklahoma City for helping him reach back-to-back MVP glory.