Thunder's Game 3 victory gives Oklahoma City a 2-1 Western Conference lead

Oklahoma City took a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference finals on May 22 with a 123-108 road win over San Antonio in Game 3, according to NBA.com. The Thunder recovered after the Spurs opened fast at Frost Bank Center and then pulled away behind bench scoring and 26 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. NBA.com’s playoff recap said Jared McCain and Jaylin Williams each set playoff career highs in scoring as Oklahoma City moved back in front in the series. The result put the Thunder two wins from the NBA Finals with Game 4 set for May 24 in San Antonio. ### How did Oklahoma City flip Game 3 after San Antonio’s start? San Antonio opened Game 3 at home with the early edge, but Oklahoma City steadied the game and took control by the second half, according to NBA.com’s game summary. The final score was 123-108, and the official series page listed the Western finals at 2-1 in Oklahoma City’s favor after the May 22 result. NBA.com said the Thunder’s bench changed the game. Its Game 3 recap highlighted McCain and Jaylin Williams for playoff career highs, describing the supporting cast as the group that helped Oklahoma City absorb San Antonio’s early pressure. ### Which Thunder players defined the win? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 26 points in the victory, according to the NBA.com Western Conference finals page. (nba.com) The same page identified Jared McCain as the “Player of the Night” for May 22 and linked postgame availability for both Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams after the 123-108 win. The Athletic’s May 22 game report, cited in the source briefing, said McCain “erupted” as Oklahoma City weathered San Antonio’s fast start and seized the 2-1 lead. (nba.com) That matched the NBA’s account of a Thunder win powered by more than just Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring. ### What does the score say about the shape of the series? The 123-108 margin gave Oklahoma City its first lead of the series since the teams split the opening two games, and NBA.com’s playoff page listed the matchup as “Game 3: OKC leads 2-1.” Basketball-Reference’s Game 3 box score also recorded the 15-point Thunder win in San Antonio. (nba.com) NBC’s Western Conference finals schedule page said the series runs from May 18 to May 30 if necessary. That leaves San Antonio trying to avoid a 3-1 deficit in Game 4, while Oklahoma City has the chance to return home with a commanding edge. ### What comes next in the Western finals? Game 4 is scheduled for May 24 in San Antonio, according to the Thunder-Spurs series schedule surfaced in ticketing and broadcast listings. (nba.com) NBA.com’s playoff coverage and NBC’s series schedule both place the next game back at Frost Bank Center before the series shifts to Oklahoma City for Game 5. (nbc.com) Game 5 is scheduled for May 26 in Oklahoma City, with Games 6 and 7, if necessary, set for May 28 in San Antonio and May 30 in Oklahoma City, according to the published series schedule. The NBA Finals are scheduled to begin June 3, ESPN’s playoff schedule page said. (nbc.com)