Thunder bench scores 76, propels OKC to 2-1 series lead over Spurs

Oklahoma City took Game 3 in San Antonio with a formula that looked unsustainable until it happened again and again: wave after wave of bench production. The Thunder beat the Spurs 123-108 on Friday, May 22, after falling behind 15-0 in the opening minutes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 26 points and 12 assists, but the defining number was 76 — the points Oklahoma City got from its reserves. NBA.com and ESPN said that was the most bench scoring by a team in a conference finals or NBA Finals game since starters were first tracked in 1971. ### How did Oklahoma City win after opening in a 15-0 hole? San Antonio opened with the longest run to start a conference finals game since the play-by-play era began in 1997, according to the Associated Press game report carried by CBS Sports. De'Aaron Fox, cleared to play shortly before tipoff after a sprained right ankle, helped spark that burst in his series debut. (cbssports.com) Victor Wembanyama hit early shots, the crowd rose, and Thunder coach Mark Daigneault called timeout before three minutes had passed. Mark Daigneault went to his bench almost immediately, and the game changed. Oklahoma City settled into the half court, cut down mistakes and outscored San Antonio by 15 over the full game. “Credit them, they were ready to play, and they got us early,” Daigneault said, adding that he thought the Thunder showed “great poise and understanding the 48-minute nature of the game.” (cbssports.com) ### Which reserves drove the 76-point outburst? Jared McCain led the second unit with a playoff career-high 24 points in 26:44. Jaylin Williams added a playoff career-high 18 points and hit five 3-pointers, while Alex Caruso scored 15 and Cason Wallace had 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Kenrich Williams and Isaiah Joe chipped in late, and Oklahoma City's bench finished with a 76-23 edge over San Antonio's reserves. (nba.com) Only two Thunder starters reached double figures. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26, Chet Holmgren had 14, and Luguentz Dort finished scoreless in 23 minutes. Ajay Mitchell, starting in place of Jalen Williams, scored two points. For most teams, that profile would be a problem; in Game 3, Oklahoma City's depth covered it. (nba.com) ### Where did San Antonio lose control? Victor Wembanyama scored 26 points for San Antonio, Devin Vassell added 20 and Fox had 15 points and six assists in 30:44. But the Spurs shot 31.7% from 3-point range and got just 23 bench points, compared with Oklahoma City's 76. Stephon Castle finished with 14 points on 1-for-8 shooting from the field, and San Antonio committed 15 turnovers. (nba.com) The fourth quarter offered one last opening. San Antonio trimmed a 15-point deficit to nine before McCain answered with a jumper and Jaylin Williams completed a four-point play with 5:57 left, pushing the lead back to 15. NBA.com identified that sequence as the moment Oklahoma City restored control. (nba.com) ### How unusual was this bench performance? ESPN said Oklahoma City's 76 bench points were the most in a conference finals or Finals game since starters were first tracked in 1971. NBA.com separately described the outing as record-setting, and AP said it was the most by a team in a conference finals game since the NBA moved to a 16-team playoff format in 1984. (nba.com) The Thunder bench has now scored 50 points in Game 1, 57 in Game 2 and 76 in Game 3, according to AP and NBA.com. For the series, NBA.com said Oklahoma City's bench has outscored San Antonio's 183-64 through three games. That gap has become one of the clearest statistical markers in the matchup as the series moves to its next game. ### What comes next in the series? Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, at 8 p.m. (msn.com) ET in San Antonio, according to NBA.com. The Thunder lead the Western Conference finals 2-1, and Game 5, if needed, is set for Tuesday, May 26. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2)