The San Antonio Spurs got handled on the road in a Game 5 loss.
They returned the favor Thursday night in a dominant 118-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder to tie the Western Conference finals at 3 games apiece. The most anticipated series of the postseason is headed to a winner-take-all Game 7 on Saturday with a trip to the NBA Finals at stake.
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There was little doubt about the outcome from the early stages of the game. The Spurs stifled Oklahoma City’s offense and caught fire from deep with eight first-quarter 3s to open a 35-22 lead.
Then in the third quarter, they slammed the door shut. The Spurs blitzed the Thunder with a 20-0 run, holding Oklahoma City without a point for 7:27 of game clock. They scored 11 of those unanswered points while Victor Wembanyama rested on the bench in a textbook display of team defense that OKC found no answer for.
When the quarter was done, the Thunder got outscored, 32-13 for their lowest output of any quarter this season. And the game was over. By early in the fourth, both teams’ stars were on the bench in with the outcome in hand in anticipation of Game 7.
Wemby steps outside, bounces back from Game 5 struggles
As expected from a Spurs blowout, Victor Wembanyama led the way.
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The Spurs center struggled inside against OKC’s physical defense in a 4-of-15 effort in Tuesday’s loss. So he stepped outside early in Game 6 to set the tone with two quick 3s as the Spurs forced an early Thunder timeout with a 9-2 lead.
Wembanyama continued to hunt or his shot from outside and finished shooting 4-of-9 from 3 en route to 28 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals. He did his damage in 28 minutes while watching the final 9:20 resting on the bench. And when he went inside, he found nothing like the resistance he faced in Game 5.
The Spurs also got more strong play from their young guards to overcome a 1-of-9 shooting effort from De’Aaron Fox (5 points, 7 assists 5 rebounds)>
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Rookie Dylan Harper impressed again as the leader off the bench with 18 point, 6 rebounds 4 assists and 1 turnover while shooting 6 of 9 from the field and 2 of 3 from 3.
Stephon Castle, who struggled with 20 combined turnovers in the first two games of the series, finished with 17 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds and just one giveaway.
More struggles for SGA
The San Antonio defense again held Shai Gilgeous-Alexander short of his MVP form. The two-time MVP struggled from the field and finished with 15 points, 4 assists and 2 turnovers while shooting 6 of 18 from the field. He also finished with a game-worst minus-28 in the plus/minus column.
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All-NBA Thunder forward Jalen Williams, meanwhile, returned from a three-plus game absence in the series with a hamstring to come off the bench. He wasn’t a factor in his 10 minutes with 1 point, 1 assist and 2 turnovers while missing his only shot from the field.
Williams was a true game-time decision and didn’t join the Thunder layup line until five minutes remained in the pregame warmup period. Oklahoma City would have probably been better off letting him continue to rest ahead of Game 7.
With Gilgeous-Alexander struggling and Williams a non-factor, Oklahoma City lacked the firepower to overcome a Spurs defense that thrived with and without Wembanyama on the floor.
As usual, Wembanyama’s length was a factor whether or not he was blocking shots. His presence repeatedly led to Thunder misses and transition opportunities for San Antonio’s offense.
And he got plenty of help from his teammates who shut down Oklahoma City’s paths to the basket and protected the rim when he wasn’t in the post.
The result was a night in which the Thunder shot 36.8% from the floor and got to the free throw line just 12 times (11 of 12). The Spurs blocked seven shots and altered countless others.
OKC also struggled from 3 (10 of 40, 25%) and lost the rebounding battle, 52-43.
This story will be updated.
Live coverage is over30 updates
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 7:59 PM PDT
Kari Anderson
After a hot start, a dominant third quarter powered the Spurs to the 27-point win to force Game 7. San Antonio outscored the Thunder 32-13, including a 20-0 run that really cemented the blowout win and kept the Spurs’ season alive in emphatic fashion.
Victor Wembanyama continues to show out in his first NBA postseason, putting up 28 points and 10 rebounds before resting for most of the fourth quarter, while rookie guard Dylan Harper had 18 points off the bench.
Meanwhile, the Thunder had a very slow night on offense, with star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recording only 15 points — just his second game under 20 points in the postseason so far.
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 7:45 PM PDT
Kari Anderson
It’s been another unreal night from Wembanyama, who put his team within five minutes of staying alive in the postseason.
With the exception of Jared McCain, all of the starters from both teams are now on the bench for the final minutes of the fourth quarter, with the Spurs’ lead approaching 30 and a deciding Game 7.
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 7:40 PM PDT
Kari Anderson
Mitch Johnson challenges a foul called on Stephon Castle, giving Jared McCain a chance for an and-one. But after review, the foul is upheld, and McCain nails his extra shot to bring the deficit to 23.
Castle fouls McCain again within a minute, bringing the second-year guard up to three personal fouls late in the game.
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 7:37 PM PDT
Kari Anderson
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 7:29 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The third quarter was all Spurs, and it looks very much like we’re headed to a Game 7.
The Spurs reeled off a 20-0 run and enter the third quarter with a 92-66 lead. They scored 11 of those points with Victor Wembanyama on the bench. OKC’s 13 points in the third were its fewest in a quarter this season.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see both teams empty their benches early in the fourth in order to rest for Game 7.
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 7:20 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Spurs are cooking and clamping down on defense.
Victor Wembanyama went to the bench with San Antonio holding a 74-64 lead. The Spurs extended that lead to 85-64 without Wembanyama on the floor with 11 straight points to force a Thunder timeout.
The overall run for San Antonio is 13-0, and OKC is in trouble in Game 6.
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 7:08 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Spurs remain in control, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got the best of Victor Wembanyama with a tough contested jumper in a rare one-on-one matchup of the MVP finalists.
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 6:59 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Spurs have a 70-60 lead after a Julian Champagnie 3, and the Thunder have taken a timeout with 9:35 remaining in the third quarter.
OKC’s offense has picked up after a sluggish start (22 first-quarter points), but the Thunder have done little to slow the Spurs down.
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 6:47 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Spurs
Victor Wembanyama: 22 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block; 4 of 8 from 3
Dylan Harper: 12 points, 3 rebounds; 5 of 6 from field, 2 of 3 from 3
Stephon Castle: 7 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 0 turnovers
Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 10 points, 4 assists; 4 of 11 from field, 0 of 3 from 3; minus-14
Jalen Williams: 1 point, 1 assist, 1 turnover in 7:21 off the bench
Cason Wallace: 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals; 4 of 4 from field, 3 of 3 from 3
Team stats
Spurs shooting: 50% from field, 44% (11 of 25) from 3
Thunder shooting: 46.7% from field, 33.3% (6 of 18) from 3
Spurs rebounds: 25
Thunder rebounds: 26
Spurs turnovers: 5
Thunder turnovers: 4
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 6:38 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Spurs allowed the Thunder to control the infla minutes of the half, and their once 15-point lead is down to 60-53 at the break.
Wembanyama is looking for his offense away from the basket and goes into halftime with 22 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 block. He’s shooting 9 of 16 from the field and 4 of 8 from 3.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 10 points and 4 assists and is struggling to find good looks on a 4-of-11 shooting effort. He’s minus-14 in the plus/minus column.
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 6:34 PM PDT
Jason Owens
SGA fell down on hard contact by Carter Bryant, and Bryant got whistled for a foul. Officials spent an inordinate time checking for a flagrant foul upgrade and determined, correctly, that it was not.
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 6:31 PM PDT
Jason Owens
So far, we’re getting prime Wemby with San Antonio’s season on the line.
Wembanyama has 20 points and 5 rebounds late in the first half. And he’s getting it done on defense, as usual.
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 6:21 PM PDT
Jason Owens
After a 22-point first quarter, the Thunder offense is picking up.
With Victor Wembanyama resting on the bench, the Thunder cut a 42-31 deficit to 47-41. Cason Wallace is 3 of 3 including two 3s off the bench.
But OKC is still struggling to slow down San Antonio’s red-hot attack.
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 6:15 PM PDT
Jason Owens
OKC cut San Antonio’s 37-22 lead to 42-31, and the Spurs have called timeout, still in possession of a double-digit lead. Mitch Johnson wants to regroup before the Thunder do more damage.
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 6:06 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Spurs are turning defense into offense and continue to connect from deep. With their season on the line, they’ll take a 35-22 lead into the second quarter.
Victor Wembanyama is 3 for 4 from deep, and the Spurs are shooting 8 of 14 (57.1%) from long distance as a team. Wembanyama has 11 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block in less than eight minutes on the court.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 6 points and 2 assists on 3-of-7 shooting from the field. He’s minus-13 having played the entire first quarter.
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 5:58 PM PDT
Jason Owens
San Antonio is scorching from deep and holds a 26-17 lead at a timeout with 2:45 remaining in the first quarter. The Spurs are 7 of 12 from deep with all but two of their field goals so far arriving from beyond the 3-point arc.
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 5:55 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Jalen Williams has made his return with 4:13 remaining in the first quarter with San Antonio holding a 20-15 lead.
He’s been sidelined since aggravating a hamstring strain early in Game 2. A big boost for OKC if he can play effectively.
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 5:41 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 5:40 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Victor Wembanyama has two early 3s, and the Spurs have a 9-2 lead out of the gate. The Thunder have called a timeout less than 90 seconds into the game.
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 5:34 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Jalen Williams is indeed warming up and is available off the bench, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. We’ll see what that looks like for actual game action in real time.
Jared McCain gets the start in his place.