Victor Wembanyama delivered one of many biggest playoff performances of his younger profession Monday night time, spoiling Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP celebration because the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder 122-115 in a double-overtime Western Convention Finals basic.
On an evening designed to rejoice Gilgeous-Alexander’s second consecutive NBA MVP award, it was Wembanyama who fully stole the highlight.
The Spurs celebrity exploded for 41 factors and 24 rebounds, dominating each ends of the ground whereas carrying San Antonio to a vital Recreation 1 highway victory inside a surprised Oklahoma Metropolis enviornment.
Wembanyama ultimately sealed the win within the closing moments of the second additional time interval with back-to-back dunks, together with a strong three-point play that lastly broke the Thunder’s resistance.
Wembanyama Publicizes Himself on the Greatest Stage
The 22-year-old French phenom appeared unstoppable all through the night time.
Whether or not it was dunking by a number of defenders, controlling the glass, or defending the rim, Wembanyama fully imposed himself on the sport in his Western Convention Finals debut.
By halftime, he already had 14 factors and 10 rebounds whereas trying completely snug underneath the brightest playoff lights.
As the sport stretched deeper into the night time and exhaustion started affecting each groups, Wembanyama solely appeared to develop stronger.
And when the sport wanted a celebrity to take over in double additional time, he answered.
Shai’s MVP Night time Ends in Frustration
The night time started with celebration for Gilgeous-Alexander, who formally obtained his second straight NBA MVP trophy earlier than tip-off.
However the Spurs made positive the ending belonged to another person.
Gilgeous-Alexander completed with 24 factors and 12 assists however struggled badly from the sector, taking pictures simply 7-for-23 in considered one of his hardest playoff outings this season.
His sluggish begin was significantly uncommon.
The Thunder guard had solely 4 first-half factors whereas taking pictures 1-for-5 from the ground — the primary time since October 2023 that he did not make not less than two subject targets earlier than halftime.
Regardless of his struggles, Shai nonetheless helped Oklahoma Metropolis power additional time after the Thunder erased a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit.
However not like Wembanyama, he might by no means totally take management of the sport offensively.
Dylan Harper and Spurs Protection Modified the Sequence Opener
Whereas Wembanyama dominated headlines, rookie guard Dylan Harper performed a large function in San Antonio’s victory.
Harper completed with 24 factors and a franchise playoff-record seven steals, repeatedly disrupting Oklahoma Metropolis’s rhythm and creating transition alternatives for the Spurs.
Stephon Citadel added 17 factors, whereas Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson every scored 13.
San Antonio additionally managed the win with out De’Aaron Fox, who missed the sport due to ankle stiffness.
Alex Caruso Retains Thunder Alive
Considered one of Oklahoma Metropolis’s largest surprises got here from veteran guard Alex Caruso.
Coming off the bench, Caruso erupted for 31 factors — the second-highest scoring playoff recreation of his profession — and repeatedly hit momentum-changing photographs that stored the Thunder alive.
Jalen Williams additionally impressed after coming back from a hamstring damage, scoring 26 factors following a six-game absence.
Nonetheless, the Thunder couldn’t survive San Antonio’s physicality and Wembanyama’s late dominance.
Spurs Steal House-Court docket Benefit
The victory provides San Antonio an early 1-0 lead within the Western Convention Finals and instantly steals home-court benefit from Oklahoma Metropolis.
It additionally continues an uncommon development between the 2 groups.
The Spurs have now crushed the Thunder 5 instances of their final six conferences.
The sport itself immediately entered NBA playoff historical past.
It grew to become the primary Western Convention Finals Recreation 1 to succeed in double additional time for the reason that Spurs confronted the Warriors in 2013.
Recreation 2 will happen Wednesday night time in Oklahoma Metropolis, the place the Thunder will now face huge strain to keep away from falling right into a 2-0 sequence gap earlier than the sequence shifts to San Antonio.
