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The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder got here into Recreation 1 of the Western Convention Finals having not misplaced an NBA Playoffs sport since Recreation 6 of the NBA Finals final 12 months.
However they hadn’t confronted Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs but, and the 7-foot-4 massive man completed with a outstanding stat line — 41 factors, 24 rebounds , three blocks and 12 made free throws — in an exhilarating, double-overtime victory, 122-115, over the Thunder to set the tone for this sequence. FOX Sports activities listed Wembanyama with 41 factors and 24 rebounds, and the ultimate rating of the interval confirmed the 122-115 double-overtime consequence.
Like two heavyweights within the closing spherical of a boxing match, haymakers had been thrown left and proper by the Spurs and Thunder, and Wembanyama had a big hand in it late within the fourth quarter when he drained a turnaround three-pointer with 11.5 seconds left on the clock to provide San Antonio a 101-99 lead.
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Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs reacts throughout the second quarter towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in Recreation One of many NBA Western Convention Finals at Paycom Heart in Oklahoma Metropolis on Could 18, 2026. (Alex Slitz/Getty Photographs)
Nevertheless, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named the league’s Most Useful Participant earlier than the beginning of the sequence, got here via within the clutch on the alternative finish. With 3.1 seconds remaining within the sport, his dash to the basket ended with a tying layup to pressure extra time.
The Spurs bought off to a four-point lead in further time, however Alex Caruso, who got here off the bench and led the Thunder with 31 factors, knocked down his eighth three of Recreation 1 to chop the result in one for San Antonio.
The Thunder used that momentum, as Jalen Williams had a dunk to take a 106-105 lead, and Gilgeous-Alexander added to it with a dunk of his personal. “Wemby,” although, was on the heart of San Antonio’s late-game response on Monday night time, and maybe his most vital bucket was a shot from properly past the arc.
Wembanyama took the ball from Stephon Fortress and added to the guard’s help whole with a 27-foot three close to the Oklahoma Metropolis emblem to tie the sport at 108 apiece with 27 seconds left. The Thunder’s bench couldn’t consider it, whereas the Spurs’ reserves erupted on this back-and-forth duel.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs dunks towards Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder throughout the second quarter of Recreation One within the NBA Western Convention Finals at Paycom Heart in Oklahoma Metropolis on Could 18, 2026. (Joshua Gateley/Getty Photographs)
Williams couldn’t hit a three-pointer on the opposite finish, and regardless of drawing up a fantastic play, Caruso knocked down Dylan Harper’s tried alley-oop to Fortress with simply 0.7 seconds remaining in extra time to maintain the rating the place it was.
Needing another further interval, Wembanyama took the sport into his fingers. He scored 9 factors in double extra time, whereas the Spurs tightened up defensively, with Wembanyama and Devin Vassell arising with key blocks ultimately.
Fortress completed with 11 assists to steer the Spurs in that class, whereas rookie guard Dylan Harper made important contributions with 24 factors, 11 rebounds, six assists and a game-high seven steals within the win. The Spurs had been doing all this with out veteran guard De’Aaron Fox, who they hope shall be again for Recreation 2.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder drives to the basket towards Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs throughout the first quarter of Recreation One within the NBA Western Convention Finals at Paycom Heart in Oklahoma Metropolis on Could 18, 2026. (Joshua Gateley/Getty Photographs)
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Williams had 26 factors for Oklahoma Metropolis, whereas Gilgeous-Alexander completed with 24 factors on 7-of-23 capturing with 12 assists and 5 steals.
It’s been a dominant run for the Thunder up thus far, but when this Recreation 1 is any indication of how this sequence will end up, the Western Convention Finals might have a protracted and dramatic sequence forward.
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