Spurs force Game 7 with dominant win over Thunder
Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper combine for 63 points as Spurs overcome elimination threat to set up decisive Saturday night contest in Oklahoma City.
The San Antonio Spurs have forced a decisive Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-91 in Game 6 on Thursday night. The victory levels the best-of-seven series at three games apiece, sending the final contest to Oklahoma City for Saturday night. The winner of the series is scheduled to host the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday.
Led by a trio of players aged 22 and younger, the Spurs delivered a comprehensive performance in their first elimination game of the postseason. Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper combined for 63 points, 21 rebounds, and 15 assists. Wembanyama scored 22 of his 28 points in the first half, shooting 56 per cent from the field with six rebounds and four three-pointers.
The turning point arrived in the third quarter, where the Spurs outscored the Thunder 32-13. San Antonio held Oklahoma City scoreless for a span of seven minutes and 28 seconds, marking the longest scoring drought for a playoff team in any playoff game since 2019. The dominant stretch extended San Antonio’s lead to 92-64 with 56 seconds remaining in the period, effectively securing the victory.
Ball security was a critical factor in the Spurs' success against a Thunder defence that had created an average of 17.4 turnovers per game in the playoffs. The Spurs committed only 13 turnovers for the game, with Castle and Harper each committing just one. This was a significant reversal for Castle, who had recorded a conference finals record 20 turnovers through the first two games of the series.
Despite facing elimination for the first time in these playoffs, and for much of the roster, the first time in their careers, the Spurs demonstrated remarkable poise. They began the series with the youngest starting lineup in conference finals history. Former NBA player Tracy McGrady advised Wembanyama to prioritise attacking the paint over shooting three-pointers to maintain dominance in Game 7, arguing that establishing an inside presence controls the tempo.
