Thunder take 2-1 lead vs Spurs

Oklahoma City moved back in front in the Western Conference finals on May 22, beating San Antonio 123-108 in Game 3 after the series arrived in Texas tied 1-1. The Thunder did it with a second unit that swung the game after an early Spurs burst and finished with 76 bench points, according to NBA.com. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points, while Jared McCain and Jaylin Williams supplied playoff career highs off the bench as Oklahoma City took a 2-1 lead. Jalen Williams did not play because of left hamstring soreness, NBA.com said. ### How did Oklahoma City win after San Antonio’s fast start? San Antonio opened Game 3 with a 15-0 run before Oklahoma City settled in and turned the game with its depth. NBA.com said the Thunder bench outscored the Spurs bench 76-23, a margin that changed the shape of the game after the early deficit. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said the Thunder focused on competing after the opening surge. “We just went out there and competed,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, according to NBA.com. “They obviously jumped on us early. (nba.com) First game in their building, their crowd behind them, they were excited to play. We just wanted to make sure we competed from that point on.” ### Why was the bench performance such a big part of the result? (nba.com) Oklahoma City’s reserves scored 76 points, which Sporting News and NBA.com described as a franchise playoff record for the Thunder bench. Jared McCain led that group with 24 points, Jaylin Williams scored 18, and Alex Caruso added 15, according to NBA.com’s game summary. (nba.com) NBA.com’s Game 3 takeaways pointed to two late bench plays that helped stop a San Antonio push. After the Spurs trimmed the lead to nine in the fourth quarter, McCain hit an 11-foot jumper and Williams followed with a four-point play that pushed the margin back to 15 with 5:57 left, NBA.com reported. ### Who led the Thunder starters? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 26 points in the win, and NBA.com listed him as Oklahoma City’s series leader through three games at 26.7 points and 11.0 assists per game. (sportingnews.com) The Thunder got enough offense from their starters to steady the game, but Game 3 turned on production from players outside the usual top line. (nba.com) Jalen Williams’ absence added to that burden. NBA.com said the forward sat out with left hamstring soreness, forcing Oklahoma City to use more of its bench in a road conference finals game. ### What does the series look like now? The first three games have produced quick swings. San Antonio won Game 1 in double overtime, 122-115, before Oklahoma City answered in Game 2 with a 122-113 win to even the series, NBA.com’s playoff page showed. (packerswire.usatoday.com) Game 3 then gave the Thunder a 2-1 edge. NBA.com’s series page lists Victor Wembanyama as San Antonio’s leading scorer through three games at 29.3 points per game, with 15.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists. (nba.com) The Spurs now need a response at home to avoid falling behind 3-1 before the series returns to Oklahoma City. ### When is Game 4 and where can readers follow it? Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, in San Antonio. (nba.com) NBA.com’s playoff page lists an 8:00 p.m. ET start, with Oklahoma City holding the 2-1 series lead and Game 5 set for May 26 if the schedule holds.