Thunder take 2-1 Western Conference finals lead as bench scores 76 in Game 3

Oklahoma City took back control of the Western Conference finals with a road win built almost entirely on depth. The Thunder beat the Spurs 123-108 in San Antonio on Friday, May 22, and now lead the series 2-1 after erasing a 15-0 opening deficit. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 26 points and 12 assists, but the defining number was 76 bench points from Oklahoma City’s second unit. (apnews.com) NBA.com said that total set a franchise playoff record, and AP reported the Thunder’s reserves outscored San Antonio’s bench 76-23. (nba.com) The game turned almost as soon as Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault went to his bench. (nba.com) AP reported San Antonio opened on a 15-0 run, the longest burst to start a conference finals game since the play-by-play era began in 1997, before Oklahoma City’s reserves changed the pace and the scoreline. By the end, the Thunder had four bench players in double figures and a series lead back in their hands. ### How did Oklahoma City win after that 15-0 start? San Antonio scored the first 15 points of the night, but Oklahoma City answered with lineup changes and faster ball movement. (apnews.com) AP said Gilgeous-Alexander led the comeback with 26 points and 12 assists, while the Thunder closed the gap quickly once the bench entered. NBA.com said Jared McCain scored a playoff career-high 24 points and Jaylin Williams added a playoff career-high 18. Alex Caruso scored 15 points and Cason Wallace had 11, giving Oklahoma City a second unit that produced more than half of its offense. (apnews.com) ### Which bench numbers mattered most? The 76-23 bench scoring margin was the clearest separator in Game 3. NBA.com said Oklahoma City’s bench now owns a plus-119 scoring differential over San Antonio through three games in the series. (apnews.com) Jared McCain’s night also put him in rare company. NBA.com said he joined James Harden as the only Thunder players to score at least 20 points off the bench in a postseason game before turning 23. ### What did the starters still provide? (nba.com) Gilgeous-Alexander gave Oklahoma City its primary shot creation even on a night when the bench carried the scoring load. AP said he paired his 26 points with 12 assists as the Thunder stabilized after the early hole. (nba.com) San Antonio got 26 points from Victor Wembanyama, according to AP, while De’Aaron Fox returned after missing the first two games of the series and finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists, NBA.com said. Dylan Harper also was available after being listed questionable entering the game. (nba.com) ### Was Oklahoma City short-handed? Jalen Williams did not play for Oklahoma City because of a hamstring injury. NBA.com said Game 3 was his seventh full postseason absence, making the bench production more significant for a Thunder team missing one of its main starters. (apnews.com) The Thunder still got enough from their regular rotation to control the second half. NBA.com’s recap described the win as a record-setting road performance driven by reserves, with Oklahoma City maintaining its scoring balance despite the missing starter. (apnews.com) ### What comes next in the series? Game 4 is set for Sunday, May 24, at 8 p.m. ET in San Antonio, according to NBA.com’s series page. The same page lists Game 5 for Tuesday, May 26, back in Oklahoma City if the series continues on schedule. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2)