Facing a 15-0 deficit early in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals Friday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t panic.
Instead, the defending champions did what they always do: defend, attack relentlessly and lean on their depth, throwing waves of athleticism at the San Antonio Spurs.
By halftime, the Thunder had turned that early hole into a 58-51 lead behind a stunning 58-36 run. By the final buzzer, Oklahoma City had a 123-108 victory, reclaiming home-court advantage and taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was held scoreless in the first quarter, finished with 26 points and 12 assists to lead the Thunder at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Gilgeous-Alexander, who didn’t attempt a free throw until midway through the third quarter, went a perfect 12 for 12 from the line.
Jaylin Williams, who scored just six total points in the first two games of the series, erupted for a career playoff-high 18 points, including 14 in the first half as Oklahoma City seized control. Six Thunder players finished in double-figures after seven reached that mark in Game 2.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, coming off a dominant 41-point, 24-rebound performance in San Antonio’s Game 1 win, looked far more human Friday night. He finished with 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting and grabbed just four rebounds. Devin Vassell added 20 points for the Spurs. The series stays in San Antonio for Game 4 on Sunday.
Here are our takeaways from Game 3:
McCain’s big night
The real MVP might be Daryl Morey, the deliverer of Jared McCain at the deadline. McCain tallied 24 points, part of the 76 bench points the Thunder posted in a monumental Game 3 without Jalen Williams. The starters led a disastrous start, down 15-0 to begin, and the bench dug them out. McCain with his courageous drives, Jaylin Williams with his timely 3s. Alex Caruso has not just been among the best role players in this series, but he’s been one of the best players overall. Maybe Sam Presti is the MVP for selecting the right reserves to fill the gaps. — Joel Lorenzi, Thunder writer
The Spurs need more than Wemby
The Spurs just don’t have enough offensive connectivity to beat the Thunder right now. This isn’t about injuries either — Oklahoma City is missing its second- and third-best creators. At least San Antonio had its core available, even if some players were clearly limited physically. Right now, the Spurs simply can’t find a consistent offensive rhythm or get Victor Wembanyama the ball in advantageous spots often enough.
The Thunder’s defense has been every bit as dominant as expected. They’ve disrupted San Antonio’s actions throughout the series, making it incredibly difficult for the Spurs to get downhill or generate clean looks. Oklahoma City has also done an excellent job separating Wembanyama from his playmakers, and San Antonio hasn’t shown the same poise offensively that defined much of its season.
So how do the Spurs get back into this series? Their wings have to make more 3-pointers. Devin Vassell was the only reliable source of offense in this game, and he impacted both ends of the floor. Beyond him, though, the Spurs got very little. The bench turned in one of its weakest performances in weeks, while Oklahoma City’s reserves stepped up in a major way after Ajay Mitchell’s injury.
This felt like a quintessential champions win from the Thunder. They held the edge in nearly every area of the game. For San Antonio to respond, the Spurs need to attack the paint with more confidence and force, and Mitch Johnson has to find cleaner, more precise ways to get Wembanyama touches in the post. — Jared Weiss, Spurs writer
