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The Thunder defeated the Spurs 127-114 on Tuesday night at Paycom Center, taking a crucial 3-2 lead in the Western Conference Finals. The Oklahoma City squad is now just one victory away from securing their spot in the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year.
Led by a stellar 32-point performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who also dished out nine assists, the Thunder bounced back from Sunday's loss in San Antonio. They will have their first opportunity to close out the series this coming Thursday in Texas.
Mark Daigneault's team, playing without Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, successfully contained Spurs' French star Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama had an off-night shooting, converting just four of 15 field goal attempts (0-for-5 from beyond the arc), finishing with 20 points and six rebounds.
The Thunder's collective effort proved pivotal: Isaiah Hartenstein recorded a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds, while Chet Holmgren contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds. From the starting five, Jared McCain shone with 20 points, and Alex Caruso added 22 points off the bench.
For the Spurs, Stephon Castle was the top scorer with 24 points, followed by Julian Champagnie with 22.
The next game, which could be decisive if the Thunder secure a win, is scheduled for Thursday night.
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