Thunder seize Western Conference finals control as role players eclipse stars
The defending champions take a 3-2 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5, driven by tactical shifts and unexpected contributions from the bench.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have reclaimed dominance in the Western Conference finals, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead. The victory was secured not by the franchise’s marquee assets, but by a strategic pivot to role players following injuries to stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. The result underscores a broader narrative shift in the series, where conventional expectations of star power were upended by tactical flexibility and depth.
Coach Mark Daigneault’s most significant adjustment involved increasing the minutes of Alex Caruso, a move that has yielded substantial returns. Caruso, who averaged just 9.5 points in 20.6 minutes against the Spurs during the regular season, has elevated his performance to 17 points per game in 24.7 minutes during the finals. He is shooting 58.1 per cent from three-point range, a surge that has provided crucial spacing and offensive efficiency.
The impact of Caruso’s presence is most evident in the team’s on-court metrics. Oklahoma City holds a plus-45 differential with Caruso on the floor, compared to a minus-36 when he is off it. This raw plus-minus total is the highest among all players in the series, surpassing even Spurs centre Victor Wembanyama. Gilgeous-Alexander described Caruso as one of the best competitors in the league, noting that his intensity sets the tone for the group.
Defensively, the Thunder have utilised Isaiah Hartenstein to contain Wembanyama, a strategy that proved effective in Game 5. Hartenstein recorded 12 points and 15 rebounds while limiting the Spurs’ star to 27 per cent shooting (3-11) when he was the primary defender. This marked a significant decline from Wembanyama’s efficiency in the first four games, where he shot better than 50 per cent. Hartenstein’s physicality and box-out discipline helped disrupt the Spurs’ interior offence.
The series outcome was further influenced by the emergence of Jared McCain, acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers on 4 February 2026. In his first career playoff start, McCain scored 20 points and hit three three-pointers, igniting a 9-0 run in the third quarter. His performance allowed Daigneault to shift Cason Wallace to the bench, where Wallace contributed two blocks and two steals. The Thunder now head to San Antonio for Game 6 on Thursday, with the series poised to conclude if Oklahoma City can maintain this structural advantage.
