Thunder take 2-1 Western Conference finals lead with Game 3 win over Spurs

Oklahoma City took control of Game 3 after San Antonio opened on a 15-0 run, and the Thunder left with a 123-108 road win on May 22 and a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference finals. The game turned on depth: Oklahoma City's bench scored 76 points, while San Antonio's bench had 23. ESPN and NBA.com said that 76-point total was the most by a team in a conference finals or NBA Finals game since starters were first tracked in 1971. The result pushed the defending champions back in front in the series after San Antonio won Game 1 and Oklahoma City answered in Game 2. NBA.com's playoff page lists Game 4 for Sunday, May 24, in San Antonio, with Oklahoma City leading 2-1. The NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on June 3. ### How did Oklahoma City recover after falling behind 15-0? (msn.com) San Antonio scored the first 15 points in fewer than three minutes, forcing Thunder coach Mark Daigneault to go to his bench almost immediately, according to ESPN's game report. That move changed the game. Oklahoma City settled the pace, erased the early deficit and built separation with second-unit scoring that San Antonio never matched. (nba.com) NBA and NBC game coverage said the Thunder took control after that opening burst and rode a franchise-record bench performance to the finish. By the end, Oklahoma City had turned an early hole into a 15-point win on the road. ### Which number best explains Game 3? The number was 76. (msn.com) ESPN reported Oklahoma City's reserves outscored San Antonio's 76-23, the highest bench total in a conference finals or Finals game since 1971. That margin did more than swing one quarter; it defined the night. (nbcsports.com) NBA.com framed the same stat as the clearest reason Oklahoma City now holds the series edge. San Antonio, by contrast, got far less from its second unit, leaving more of the offense to its starters as the game slipped away. ### Who led the Thunder on the floor? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points in the win, NBA.com said in its daily playoff roundup. (msn.com) Series averages posted on the league's playoff page list Gilgeous-Alexander at 26.7 points and 11.0 assists through three games. Victor Wembanyama has been San Antonio's top producer in the series, averaging 29.3 points and 15.0 rebounds through Game 3, according to the same NBA playoff page. (nba.com) The matchup has paired Oklahoma City's backcourt creation and depth against San Antonio's size and star power. ### What does the 123-108 score say about the series now? The 123-108 final gave Oklahoma City consecutive wins after dropping the opener, and it flipped home-court pressure onto San Antonio heading into the next game. (nba.com) USA Today described the result as putting the Thunder "in control" of the Western Conference finals. (nba.com) The broader playoff picture is now straightforward. Oklahoma City needs two more wins to reach the NBA Finals, while San Antonio must answer at home to avoid falling into a 3-1 deficit. NBA.com said Game 4 would test whether the Spurs can respond or whether Oklahoma City's bench-driven formula travels again. ### When and where is Game 4? (usatoday.com) Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, in San Antonio. NBA.com's playoff bracket lists an 8:00 p.m. ET start, while a local San Antonio television report published before the series said the game would air on NBC and Peacock. The next dates are already on the bracket if the series continues. NBA.com lists Game 5 for May 26 in Oklahoma City, Game 6 for May 28 in San Antonio and Game 7, if necessary, for May 30. (nba.com)