Spurs beat Thunder in double-overtime to take Game 1 of Western Conference finals

Victor Wembanyama gave San Antonio the road win it needed, and he did it with one of the biggest playoff lines of his career. The Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in double overtime on Monday night at Paycom Center, taking Game 1 of the Western Conference finals and stealing home-court advantage. Wembanyama finished with 41 points and 24 rebounds, according to the NBA and the Associated Press. Dylan Harper added 24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and a team playoff-record seven steals as San Antonio moved ahead 1-0 in the series. ### How did San Antonio take control this late on the road? San Antonio closed the game in the second overtime after Wembanyama scored with a pair of late dunks, one of them part of a three-point play in the final minute, the AP game recap said. The Spurs outlasted an Oklahoma City team that had entered the night on a nine-game playoff winning streak dating to Game 7 of last season’s NBA Finals. (nba.com) The Spurs also got secondary scoring from Stephon Castle, who had 17 points, while Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson scored 13 apiece and Julian Champagnie added 11, according to the AP recap. NBA.com said San Antonio won the rebounding battle 61-40, a gap that helped offset Oklahoma City’s 50-16 edge in bench points. (nba.com) ### What made Wembanyama’s night stand out? Wembanyama, 22, became the youngest player with at least 40 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game, the AP said. The previous youngest player to post a 40-point, 20-rebound playoff game was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1970 NBA Finals. NBA.com said Wembanyama joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to record at least 40 points and 20 rebounds in their conference finals debut. (nba.com) He also set playoff career highs in both points and rebounds in a game that ran 49 minutes for him. “A great effort — from everybody,” Wembanyama said after the game, according to the AP. ### Why wasn’t Oklahoma City able to finish it? Alex Caruso scored 31 points off the bench for Oklahoma City and made eight 3-pointers, the second-highest scoring game of his career, according to the AP. Jalen Williams returned from a six-game absence caused by a hamstring strain and scored 26 points. (nba.com) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 24 points and 12 assists, but the AP said he shot 7-for-23 on the night. (nba.com) NBA.com said San Antonio repeatedly dropped into the lane to make life harder for Gilgeous-Alexander, limiting the reigning MVP’s efficiency even as he continued to create for others. The Thunder’s bench production kept the game alive, but Oklahoma City could not match San Antonio’s size on the glass over the full 58 minutes. (nba.com) ### How unusual was a Game 1 like this? Monday’s game was the sixth Game 1 in NBA playoff history to go to double overtime, and the first since a Spurs-Warriors game in 2013, according to the AP recap on NBA.com. The result also continued San Antonio’s recent success in the matchup; the AP said the Spurs have beaten the Thunder five times in six meetings this season. (nba.com) NBA.com’s game page listed the series as San Antonio leading 1-0 and set the next game for Wednesday, May 20, at 8:30 p.m. ET in Oklahoma City. The game is scheduled to air on NBC and Peacock. (nba.com)