Spurs and Thunder force double overtime in Western Conference Finals opener
Chet Holmgren blocks potential game-winner at the buzzer, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander secures victory for Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals.
The San Antonio Spurs and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder engaged in a high-stakes contest during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Western Conference Finals on Monday, 19 May 2026. The match required double overtime to determine a winner, with the Spurs ultimately securing home-court advantage in the series. Victor Wembanyama delivered a dominant statistical performance for San Antonio, recording 41 points, 24 rebounds, and three blocks.
San Antonio fielded the youngest starting lineup in NBA Conference Finals history, with an average age of 22 years and 346 days. The roster included rookie Dylan Harper alongside Stephon Castle, who recorded 11 turnovers, including three in the fourth quarter and two in overtime. De'Aaron Fox was a late scratch for the Spurs due to a high right ankle sprain, forcing the team to adjust its guard rotation.
The Thunder took a seven-point lead at halftime, capitalising on poor shooting from San Antonio in the first half. Oklahoma City made just 37.2% of their field goals and 27.3% of their 3-pointers in the first two quarters. Despite trailing, the Spurs navigated the deficit, with Wembanyama altering his offensive approach to focus on interior play against smaller defenders like Jalen Williams and Alex Caruso.
Chet Holmgren blocked Wembanyama’s potential game-winning shot at the buzzer of regulation, forcing the game into overtime. Holmgren scored just eight points on 2-for-7 shooting, continuing a regular-season struggle against San Antonio where he averaged 10.5 points with a 16% usage rate. The Spurs utilised Wembanyama’s size mismatch by placing him down low more frequently, limiting his 3-point attempts to only two out of 25 field goal attempts.
In the first overtime, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, secured the win for Oklahoma City with a dunk. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 24 points and 12 assists but struggled with his shooting efficiency. Wembanyama tied the game with a pull-up 3-point shot in overtime before sealing the victory with a pair of late dunks, including a three-point play, in the final minute of double overtime.
Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at the Paycom Center. The matchup marks only the third occasion since the conferences were formed in 1970 that two teams with a regular-season win percentage of .750 or better have met in the conference finals.
