The San Antonio Spurs routed the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-91 in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals, setting up a Game 7 decider.
Victor Wembanyama’s performance, with 28 points and 10 rebounds, lifted the Spurs to victory. The crucial Game 7 will be held in Oklahoma City, with the winner set to face the New York Knicks in the NBA finals.
Wembanyama’s Dominance Fuels Spurs’ Victory
After the Thunder’s 127-114 win in Game 5, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson had called for more from Wembanyama. Wembanyama responded emphatically, sinking two three-pointers and blocking a shot within the first 90 seconds of the game.
San Antonio jumped out to an early lead and never trailed. The Spurs led by 15 early in the second quarter, but the Thunder narrowed the gap to five points just before half-time, trailing by seven at the break.
Defensive Shift Seals the Deal
San Antonio intensified their defence late in the third quarter, unleashing a 20-0 run that effectively decided the game. The Thunder struggled immensely, missing 14 consecutive shots and enduring nearly eight minutes without scoring.
Oklahoma City managed a mere 13 points in the third quarter, their lowest quarter score of the season. With the game slipping away after three quarters, Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault chose to sit key players Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein for the fourth quarter.
Supporting Cast Steps Up for San Antonio
Dylan Harper contributed 18 points off the bench for San Antonio, while Stephon Castle added 17 points and nine assists with only one turnover. The Spurs’ reserves outscored Oklahoma City’s 46-38 in Game 6, reversing a trend where the Thunder’s bench had been more productive for much of the series.
The Spurs started strongly with a barrage of three-pointers, hitting eight in the first quarter alone, including three from Wembanyama. In contrast, the Thunder were only 1 of 6 from beyond the arc in the first quarter.
Thunder’s Key Player Struggles
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a team-high of just 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting. This was Gilgeous-Alexander’s lowest-scoring output since Game 3 of last season’s Western Conference finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he scored 14.
Jalen Williams returned for Oklahoma City after missing the previous three games due to a hamstring strain. However, he played only 10 minutes, scoring one point, and came off the bench for the first time since 10 December 2022, during his rookie season.
The final showdown in Game 7 will determine which team advances to face the New York Knicks in the NBA finals.