Spurs shock Thunder in double-overtime Game 1 of West finals

San Antonio opened the Western Conference finals by taking a 122-115 double-overtime win over Oklahoma City on Monday at Paycom Center, putting the Spurs ahead 1-0 in the best-of-seven series. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 41 points and 24 rebounds, and rookie Dylan Harper added 24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and seven steals in a game the NBA called an instant classic. Oklahoma City, the defending champion, lost for the first time this postseason after opening the playoffs with a sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers. The game stretched through two overtimes before San Antonio separated late. ### How did San Antonio get out of Oklahoma City with Game 1? Victor Wembanyama carried the Spurs offense for long stretches, finishing with 41 points, 24 rebounds and three blocks in his first conference finals game. NBA.com said his production set the tone for a road win against a Thunder team that had not lost in the playoffs before Monday. Dylan Harper gave San Antonio another ballhandler and scorer when possessions tightened. The rookie’s 24-point line included 11 rebounds, six assists and seven steals, according to NBA.com’s recap, as the Spurs survived a game that stayed within reach through regulation and both extra periods. ### What was the final margin after two overtimes? The NBA’s official game summary listed the final score as 122-115 after double overtime. NBA.com’s live coverage separately described the result as a 125-118 win, but the league’s game page and box score recorded 122-115 as the official final. Oklahoma City stayed alive into the second overtime before San Antonio pulled away. NBA.com said the Spurs closed the game with a late surge after the teams were still trading possessions deep into extra time. ### How big was Wembanyama’s night? Wembanyama’s 41 points and 24 rebounds were the defining numbers of the opener. NBA.com said the 7-foot-4 Spurs star delivered a historic performance in his conference finals debut. The Thunder entered the series with the challenge of containing Wembanyama already central to the matchup. NBA.com’s takeaways after the game said Oklahoma City had “a big problem to solve” after the Spurs star repeatedly broke through in Game 1. ### Who else mattered for San Antonio and Oklahoma City? Harper’s all-around stat line gave San Antonio a second standout performance beside Wembanyama. NBA.com said Harper and Wembanyama both made playoff history in the win, though the league’s recap focused primarily on their combined production rather than a single play deciding the game. Oklahoma City still had enough offense to force two extra periods at home. The Thunder had entered the series as the West’s No. 1 seed after sweeping the Lakers, according to ESPN’s playoff bracket page, and Monday marked their first postseason defeat. ### Why does the result stand out this early in the series? Game 1 was played in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder had home-court advantage as the top seed in the Western Conference. San Antonio was the No. 2 seed and had reached the conference finals after beating Minnesota 4-1 in the previous round, according to ESPN’s bracket. The road result gives the Spurs an early edge in a series that began with Oklahoma City coming off extra rest. NBC Sports’ conference-finals schedule page listed Thunder-Spurs as one of the two final four matchups now underway, alongside Knicks-Cavaliers in the East. ### When is the next game? Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, in Oklahoma City, with San Antonio holding a 1-0 lead in the series. The NBA’s playoff schedule lists the Spurs and Thunder remaining in Oklahoma City for the second game before the series shifts to San Antonio.