Spurs level Western Conference finals with defensive masterclass against Thunder
Victor Wembanyama’s 33 points and a tactical shift in perimeter defence saw San Antonio secure a 103-82 victory over the Thunder in Game 4.
The San Antonio Spurs have levelled the NBA Western Conference finals series at two games apiece, securing a commanding 103-82 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4. Played at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, the win halted the Thunder’s momentum after they had taken a 2-1 series lead with a 123-108 victory in Game 3. The Spurs forced 17 turnovers and enforced a near-perfect defensive performance that restricted the champions to their lowest playoff scoring output since 2020.
Central to the Spurs’ resurgence was a significant tactical adjustment by head coach Mitch Johnson. San Antonio abandoned the high traps and double teams on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander that characterised the first three games, opting instead to cover him with a single defender while helpers squeezed down to the nail. This strategy allowed the Spurs to maintain closer proximity to Oklahoma City’s shooters, enabling them to contest three-point attempts more effectively without leaving Gilgeous-Alexander in open space.
The defensive shift had an immediate impact on the Thunder’s supporting cast. In Game 3, OKC’s bench had outscored San Antonio’s reserves 76-23, but in Game 4, the reserves scored just 32 points to the Spurs’ 30. Key contributors such as Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Jaylin Williams and Jared McCain, who combined for 68 points in the previous contest, were held to just 12 points on two three-pointers. Caruso, who had been shooting 61 per cent from deep, failed to score in Game 4 as the Thunder shot just 18 per cent from three-point range as a team.
Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 33 points, shooting 11-of-22 from the field and 3-of-7 from three-point range. He added eight rebounds, five assists, three blocked shots, and two steals in 31 minutes, including a half-court shot at the buzzer to end the first half. The Spurs have now outscored Oklahoma City by 50 points with Wembanyama on the floor over the series, compared to a minus-46 differential when he is off the court, highlighting the critical nature of his presence.
Gilgeous-Alexander was restricted to 19 points on 6-of-15 shooting, a stark contrast to his dominant performances in the earlier games. The series now shifts to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Tuesday, with Game 6 scheduled for Thursday in San Antonio. The Spurs have not lost three consecutive games this season, and the defensive efficacy displayed on Sunday suggests a significant shift in the tactical landscape of the finals.
