Spurs outlast Thunder in double-overtime in OKC

Victor Wembanyama gave San Antonio a road win the Spurs had chased for nearly five hours, finishing with 41 points and 24 rebounds in a 122-115 double-overtime victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Monday night. San Antonio took the opener at Paycom Center behind a 61-40 rebounding edge and late baskets from Wembanyama after a game that was tied at the end of regulation and the first overtime. Oklahoma City got 31 points from Alex Caruso off the bench and 24 points with 12 assists from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but the top-seeded Thunder could not close out the extra sessions. The result gave the Spurs a 1-0 series lead and home-court advantage. ### How did San Antonio get out of Oklahoma City with Game 1? San Antonio won 122-115 after scoring 14 points in the second overtime and holding Oklahoma City to seven, according to NBA.com and Fox Sports. Wembanyama played 49 minutes and finished plus-16, while Dylan Harper added 24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and seven steals, NBA.com said. Stephon Castle had 17 points and 11 assists. The Spurs stayed alive by controlling the boards and getting to the line. Fox Sports listed San Antonio with 15 offensive rebounds, 27-for-29 free-throw shooting and 52 points in the paint. Oklahoma City made more 3-pointers, 17 to 13, but lost the possession battle with 14 turnovers and the rebounding deficit. ### What did Wembanyama's night look like? Wembanyama posted playoff career highs in both points and rebounds in his conference finals debut, NBA.com said. The league said he joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to record 40 points and 20 rebounds in a conference finals debut, and called him the youngest player in NBA history with 40 points and 20 rebounds in a postseason game. He also had three blocks. NBA.com said Wembanyama scored 20 combined points across the fourth quarter and the two overtime periods. The late scoring mattered after Oklahoma City pushed the game into extra time and then extended it again. ### Why was Oklahoma City still in position to win? Alex Caruso kept the Thunder in the game with 31 points and eight 3-pointers off the bench, NBA.com said. Fox Sports listed Oklahoma City with a 50-16 advantage in bench points, a margin that helped offset Gilgeous-Alexander's inefficient shooting night. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 24 points on 23 shots, along with 12 assists and five steals, according to NBA.com. The live recap said San Antonio dropped into the lane to make life harder for the reigning Kia MVP and kept him from taking over the game in his usual spots. ### Which numbers best explain the result? The 61-40 rebounding margin was the clearest team stat in San Antonio's favor. Fox Sports also showed the Spurs attempted 96 field goals to Oklahoma City's 101 but made up the difference with second chances and free throws. The 27 made free throws also separated the teams. San Antonio hit 93.1% from the line, while Oklahoma City went 16-for-19, Fox Sports said. ### What changes now in the series? Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET in Oklahoma City on NBC and Peacock, NBA.com said. San Antonio enters with a 1-0 lead after taking the opener on the road. NBA.com said teams that win Game 1 of the conference finals have gone on to win the series 78.2% of the time. The next official checkpoint is Wednesday night's Game 2 at Paycom Center, where Oklahoma City will try to even the series before it shifts.