Thunder lead Spurs 2-1

Oklahoma City took control of the Western Conference finals on Friday night with a 123-108 road win over San Antonio in Game 3, giving the defending champion Thunder a 2-1 series lead. The NBA’s official playoff page lists Game 3 as a 15-point Thunder victory and shows Oklahoma City now two wins from another trip to the NBA Finals. CBS Sports also reported the result moved the Thunder in front heading into Game 4, after the teams split the first two games in Oklahoma City. The series remains tighter than the 2-1 margin can make it look. The NBA playoff page shows San Antonio won Game 1 in double overtime before Oklahoma City answered in Game 2 and then took Game 3 on the road. Through three games, the site lists Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as Oklahoma City’s series scoring leader at 26.7 points per game and Victor Wembanyama as San Antonio’s leader at 29.3. ### How did Oklahoma City grab the series lead? Game 3 turned on Oklahoma City’s response after San Antonio’s early push. The Sporting News reported the Thunder erased an early deficit and beat the Spurs 123-108 behind 26 points from Gilgeous-Alexander in 36 minutes. The same report said Oklahoma City got a franchise-high 76 points from its bench. (nba.com) The Oklahoman reported Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points as Oklahoma City rallied past Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in San Antonio. Fox Sports’ game page also lists the May 22 contest as a 123-108 Thunder win, which aligns with the NBA’s official series page despite some outlets dating the game by local publication time. (sportingnews.com) ### What does 2-1 mean in the shape of this matchup? The NBA playoff bracket now shows Oklahoma City holding home-court advantage and the series edge, but San Antonio is still one win from leveling it. The official series page lists the first three results as Spurs 122-115 in double overtime, Thunder 122-113, and Thunder 123-108. (oklahoman.com) NBC Sports noted Oklahoma City had the league’s best regular-season record and would have home-court advantage in the NBA Finals against any remaining opponent. That makes each game in San Antonio especially important for the Spurs, who need to protect home floor to avoid going back to Oklahoma City facing elimination. That last point is an inference from the published schedule and series score. (nba.com) ### Which players have defined the series so far? Three games in, the official NBA playoff page lists Gilgeous-Alexander at 26.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game for Oklahoma City. The same page lists Wembanyama at 29.3 points, 15.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists for San Antonio. San Antonio has still had broad production. (nbcsports.com) The Sporting News said all five Spurs starters finished in double figures in Game 3 even as Wembanyama led the team with 26 points. Oklahoma City’s bench scoring, though, was the clearest swing factor in that game. (nba.com) ### When is Game 4, and where can people watch? Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern in San Antonio, according to the NBA’s official West finals page. The same page lists Peacock and NBC as the broadcasters. Game 5, if played as scheduled, is set for Tuesday, May 26, in Oklahoma City. (sportingnews.com) The broader playoff calendar is already fixed. ESPN’s playoff schedule page and NBC Sports’ bracket page both say the 2026 NBA Finals begin on June 3, with ABC carrying the series. ### What comes next if the series keeps stretching? (nba.com) The NBA’s official schedule lists Game 6, if necessary, for May 28 and Game 7, if necessary, for May 30. CBS Sports said Oklahoma City’s Game 3 win gave the Thunder the edge heading into the next game, but the bracket still leaves room for a full seven-game series before the Finals open on June 3. (nba.com) (espn.com)