All articles tagged with #victor wembanyama
Jamal Crawford answers fan questions in the NBA Mailbag, urging the Spurs to keep Victor Wembanyama closer to the basket in Game 6 to maximize his impact and open up the offense, while also breaking down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s all-around threat, praising Alex Caruso’s defensive mindset, and touching on broader playoff themes and matchups.
The Spurs trail 3-2 after a rough Game 5 for Victor Wembanyama (20 points, 6 rebounds, 4‑of‑15 FG, 0‑of‑5 3P, 12‑of‑12 FT) as Oklahoma City seized momentum. Chris Bosh lauded the Thunder for multiple players stepping up and urged San Antonio to attack the paint and run effective actions for Wembanyama. San Antonio must defend home court in Game 6 in a bid to force a Game 7 in OKC; the winner advances to face the Knicks in the NBA Finals setup with NBC set to air Game 6 at 5:30 PM PT.
San Antonio, tied 2-2 with Oklahoma City, faces elimination in Game 6 and needs a more aggressive Victor Wembanyama to spark a comeback, while the Thunder rely on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a veteran, playoff-tested core to close out the series and push toward the Finals.
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 127–114 in Game 5, overcoming a rough start from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as they leaned on depth and tactical adjustments—Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso, and Kenrich Williams provided scoring while coach Mark Daigneault deployed multiple defenses to slow Victor Wembanyama, who played 38 minutes with limited impact and the Spurs’ offense faded after a strong opener.
Victor Wembanyama scored 20 points on 4-for-15 shooting, but left the arena and skipped the postgame media session after San Antonio’s 127-114 Game 5 loss to Oklahoma City, giving the Thunder a 3-2 series edge. NBA officials had warned him about media duties, though he was not fined; the Spurs face possible elimination in Game 6 in San Antonio as they continue their rivalry with OKC.
Victor Wembanyama scored 20 on 4-for-15 and did not speak to reporters after San Antonio's 127-114 Game 5 loss to Oklahoma City, triggering an NBA warning over media access rules. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson urged more production and aggression from Wembanyama in Game 6, as San Antonio fights to extend the Western Conference Finals. Wembanyama has been a playoff focal point, with his best games coming in Games 1 and 4, but OKC's defense stifled him in Game 5; with the Spurs facing elimination, Game 6 in San Antonio is a must-win.
OKC’s aggressive, early-rotation defense crowded the paint and disrupted Wembanyama, limiting his scoring and forcing the Spurs to rely on outside shots. San Antonio showed sporadic kickouts but couldn’t sustain efficient offense as the Thunder’s physical, floor-shrinking approach kept him uncomfortable and denied clear paths to the rim. The result in Game 5 highlighted the Spurs’ spacing and finish problems and suggested that future games will hinge on whether San Antonio can create higher-percentage looks and sustain defense, while OKC can continue to shelter its rim and punish any over-penetration.
Oklahoma City erased a rough start from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to beat San Antonio 127-114 in Game 5, pulling the series to 3-2. Holmgren notched a double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds); bench contributors like Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso provided a spark, and the Thunder leaned on depth and an 'next man up' mentality after injuries. The win underscored Oklahoma City’s experience edge and willingness to adjust, setting up a pivotal Game 6 against a Spurs team led by Wembanyama.
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead in the Western Conference Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 with 9 assists (and 16 of 17 free throws) to pace OKC, while Jared McCain added 20 points (18 in the second half). Victor Wembanyama had 20 on 4-of-15 shooting with 6 rebounds, and Spurs teammates Julian Champagnie (22) and Stephon Castle (24) contributed, but San Antonio couldn’t erase a double-digit OKC halftime lead. The Spurs will try to even the series in Game 6 on Thursday.
Live updates for Game 5 of the 2026 West Finals feature Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs hosting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder. With a 2-2 series, home teams have historically had the edge, and Oklahoma City will be without Ajay Mitchell and Thomas Sorber while Jalen Williams is listed as questionable. The game hinges on lineups, matchups and Wembanyama’s efficiency as San Antonio seeks a 3-2 series lead.
A 2023-24 Panini Prizm one-of-one Black Victor Wembanyama rookie card sold for $5.1 million in a private sale brokered by Fanatics Collect—the highest price ever for a non-autographed NBA card. The deal underscores Wembanyama’s skyrocketing value as San Antonio advances in the playoffs, with the buyer noting his ceiling could exceed past greats; Wembanyama’s autographs are restricted by his Fanatics deal. The Spurs are in the Western Conference Finals after a 103-82 Game 4 win in which Wembanyama posted 33 points, illustrating his all-around impact.
Victor Wembanyama starred in a must-win Game 4, finishing with 33 points, eight rebounds and three blocks to lift the Spurs past the Thunder and even the Western Conference Finals at 2-2. He attacked the rim with aggression and mixed in perimeter shooting, while San Antonio’s coaching adjustments and a fired-up locker room helped set the tone for a pivotal performance as the series momentum shifted.
The Knicks clinched their first NBA Finals berth since 1999 by sweeping the Cavaliers and riding an 11-game playoff win streak, with Jalen Brunson earning East Finals MVP, while in the West the Spurs and Thunder are tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 as Wembanyama and SGA lead a high-stakes chase for a Finals berth, with the Finals starting June 3 and NYK awaiting the West winner.
Spurs adjusted in Game 4 by keeping Victor Wembanyama around the rim and applying a tighter one-on-one on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with help swarms when he drove. The ploy disrupted OKC’s offense, produced 20 Thunder turnovers, and limited 3-point shooting (6-for-33) while injuries to Jalen Williams and Mitchell left the Thunder shorthanded. San Antonio tied the series and forced Daigneault to figure out how to generate space for SGA and jump-start the supporting cast in Game 5.
Justin Termine, the sole voter to omit Victor Wembanyama from the All-NBA First Team, says he votes by position and believed Jokic had a better regular season at center; he frames his stance as defending basketball history, citing Patrick Ewing’s 1994 snub, even as Wembanyama shines in the playoffs.