Spurs clinch Western Conference finals berth, join Thunder

San Antonio finished the Western Conference semifinals on May 15 with a 139-109 road win over Minnesota, sending the Spurs into a conference finals matchup with Oklahoma City. Stephon Castle led the closeout with 32 points and 11 rebounds, and Victor Wembanyama added 18 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists as the Spurs won the series 4-2. Oklahoma City reached the round earlier and enters the series unbeaten in the 2026 playoffs. NBA.com’s playoff bracket showed the Thunder had completed a 4-0 second-round sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers and were 8-0 overall before the conference finals matchup was set. The matchup now gives the Western Conference finals the top two seeds in the conference. NBA.com’s bracket lists Oklahoma City as the No. 1 seed and San Antonio as the No. 2 seed, after the Spurs eliminated Portland in five games in the first round and Minnesota in six in the second. (apnews.com) ### How did San Antonio close out Minnesota? Stephon Castle delivered the biggest scoring line of the night in Minneapolis, finishing with 32 points and 11 rebounds in the Game 6 win. (nba.com) The Associated Press reported that San Antonio’s backcourt set the tone in a blowout that ended Minnesota’s season. Victor Wembanyama gave San Antonio another two-way anchor with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, while the Spurs pulled away decisively. (nba.com) NBA.com said San Antonio used a 20-0 run in the second quarter to take control before rolling into the next round. Minnesota had extended the series earlier in the round, but the Spurs closed it without needing a seventh game. (apnews.com) The official NBA playoff page lists the semifinal result as Spurs 4, Timberwolves 2. ### What shape is Oklahoma City in entering the series? Oklahoma City comes in with more rest after wrapping up its semifinal before San Antonio. The NBA playoff page lists the Thunder’s second-round series against the Lakers as a 4-0 win, leaving Oklahoma City undefeated through two rounds. (apnews.com) The Thunder’s 8-0 start is unusual for this stage of the postseason because it means they have not faced an elimination game or even a single loss through eight playoff games. (nba.com) NBA.com’s playoff coverage also highlighted “OKC’s 8-0 start” in its Friday roundup. ### When does the series start, and where? Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, in Oklahoma City. The Spurs’ official schedule page lists the Western Conference finals opener at Paycom Center, with a 7:00 p.m. (nba.com) CDT start and NBC and Peacock carrying the broadcast. Thunder Wire and The Oklahoman both published the full game-by-game schedule on May 15 after San Antonio advanced. (nba.com) Those reports list Game 2 for May 19 in Oklahoma City before the series shifts to San Antonio for Game 3 on May 23 and Game 4 on May 25, with Games 5 through 7 set for May 27, May 30 and June 1 if necessary. (nba.com) ### Why is Oklahoma City opening at home? NBA.com’s bracket lists Oklahoma City as the West’s No. 1 seed and San Antonio as the No. 2 seed, which gives the Thunder home-court advantage in the conference finals. That format puts Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 in Oklahoma City, with Games 3, 4 and 6 in San Antonio. The seeding also matches how the teams moved through the bracket. Oklahoma City eliminated the No. 8 Suns in the first round and then swept the No. 4 Lakers, while San Antonio beat the No. 7 Trail Blazers before knocking out the No. 6 Timberwolves. (okcthunderwire.usatoday.com) ### What comes next? May 17 is the next date on the bracket, with San Antonio opening the Western Conference finals on the road against Oklahoma City. (nba.com) The NBA playoff page already lists the series, and Thunder Wire’s schedule post provides the full dates and times through a possible Game 7 on June 1.