Printed On 19 Could 2026
Victor Wembanyama outduelled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to guide the San Antonio Spurs to an epic 122-115 double-overtime overcome the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in sport one of many NBA Western Convention finals.
Wembanyama scored 41 factors and pulled down 24 rebounds within the thrilling sport on Monday. He pressured the second time beyond regulation with a stunning three-pointer and delivered 9 of the Spurs’ 14 factors within the second time beyond regulation as San Antonio handed the defending champions their first defeat of those playoffs.
“It was, like, sheer willpower,” 22-year-old Wembanyama instructed broadcaster NBC after the sport.
The French star performed 49 minutes, producing a pair of dunks and a vital block late within the second time beyond regulation to seal the victory.
With the triumph at Oklahoma Metropolis’s Paycom Heart, the Spurs stole home-court benefit within the best-of-seven sequence that can ship the winners to the NBA Finals.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP motivates Wembanyama
Wembanyama admitted the sight of Thunder star Gilgeous-Alexander receiving his second straight Most Worthwhile Participant trophy earlier than the sport made the conflict extra private “for certain”.
He earned Defensive Participant of the Yr honours however completed third within the MVP voting introduced on Sunday.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson mentioned the sight of Gilgeous-Alexander lifting the MVP award “one hundred pc” motivated his star.
“He’s aggressive,” Johnson mentioned. “When you’re a competitor and also you see one other competitor get rewarded with what you need.”
However Wembanyama mentioned the principle message of the night time was that the younger Spurs “are able to go in any atmosphere, in anywhere, in opposition to anyone”.
“And regardless that we’ve nonetheless bought lots to be taught, our effort must be over anyone else’s and tonight we have been relentless.”
Rookie Dylan Harper, beginning rather than injured De’Aaron Fox, scored 24 factors and snagged seven steals for San Antonio. Stephon Fort added 17 factors and 11 assists because the Spurs prolonged their season dominance of the Thunder.
Oklahoma Metropolis, making an attempt to turn out to be the primary group to repeat as champions since Golden State in 2017 and 2018, piled up a league-best 64 regular-season wins however dropped 4 of 5 contests in opposition to the Spurs, who received 62 regular-season video games to return to the playoffs for the primary time since 2019.
Gilgeous-Alexander was restricted to 24 factors, shaking off a sluggish begin to key the Thunder’s bid to rally from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit.
‘Wasn’t capable of carry my finest sport’
Alex Caruso scored 31 factors to guide the Thunder and Jalen Williams returned from a six-game damage absence to attain 26.
Oklahoma Metropolis trailed by 10 within the fourth quarter, however the Thunder clawed again, and it was knotted at 99-99 with 33.2 seconds left when Wembanyama spun in for a basket that put San Antonio up 101-99.
Gilgeous-Alexander then tied it up with a layup and Chet Holmgren blocked Wembanyama’s potential game-winner on the buzzer.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s dunk put the Thunder up 108-105 with 57.6 seconds left within the first time beyond regulation.
However Wembanyama drilled a transition three-pointer to tie it, and so they went to the second additional session.
“I do know what my teammates are able to, what we’re able to as a group after we carry it,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “It’s simply unlucky I wasn’t capable of carry my finest sport tonight.
“However that’s the way it goes typically … you’ve bought to roll with the punches, don’t get discouraged and keep true to who you might be.”
The Thunder, who swept the Phoenix Suns and LeBron James’s Los Angeles Lakers within the first two rounds, will attempt to bounce again once they host sport two on Wednesday earlier than the sequence shifts to San Antonio for video games three and 4 on Friday and Saturday.
The sequence winners will face both the New York Knicks or the Cleveland Cavaliers within the NBA Finals.
