Thunder survive Spurs double-overtime

San Antonio, not Oklahoma City, came out of the Western Conference finals opener with the result that mattered. The Spurs beat the Thunder 122-115 in double overtime on May 18 at Paycom Center, taking a 1-0 series lead after a game that stretched across 58 minutes and two extra periods. NBA.com’s official game summary and box score list Victor Wembanyama with 41 points and 24 rebounds in the Spurs’ road win. The game drew attention in part because the early framing around it was wrong. Highlight packages and social posts circulated the idea that Oklahoma City had “survived,” but the official NBA record shows San Antonio won Game 1. The Spurs were the No. 2 seed, the Thunder the No. 1 seed, and the opener immediately turned the series into a live test of whether Oklahoma City can answer San Antonio’s size, shot creation and late-game composure. (nba.com) ### So who actually won the double-overtime game? The NBA’s official box score lists San Antonio as the winner, 122-115, with the Spurs outscoring Oklahoma City 14-7 in the second overtime. The game summary page identifies it as Game 1 of the Western Conference finals and shows San Antonio leading the series 1-0. (nba.com) NBA.com’s recap described the finish as an “instant classic” and said Wembanyama “lifts Spurs” in Game 1. A separate NBA video recap also states, “The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 122-115, in double OT.” ### What decided a game that lasted two overtimes? (nba.com) Victor Wembanyama’s line was the clearest statistical answer. The Spurs center finished with 41 points, 24 rebounds and 3 blocks in 48:42, according to the official box score. NBA.com’s takeaways piece called it a “historic performance” in his first conference finals game. (nba.com) San Antonio also got 24 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists from Dylan Harper, plus 17 points and 11 assists from Stephon Castle. The Spurs shot 27-for-29 from the free-throw line, a major edge in a game where both teams attempted more than 95 field goals. ### How did Oklahoma City keep it that close? (nba.com) Alex Caruso gave Oklahoma City its biggest surprise scoring punch. The Thunder reserve scored 31 points in 31:40 and made 8 of 14 from 3-point range, while Jalen Williams added 26 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 24 points and 12 assists. The Thunder forced 23 Spurs turnovers and hit 17 3-pointers, numbers that usually give a team enough to win at home. (nba.com) But Oklahoma City shot 40.6% overall, and Chet Holmgren finished with 8 points on 2-for-7 shooting in 40:52. ### Why did the highlights create confusion? YouTube clips and short highlight reels captured the game’s drama, especially the fourth quarter and second overtime, but they do not replace the official record. (nba.com) The existence of separate “Overtime2” and full-game highlight packages accurately reflected how long and tense the opener became, yet the NBA’s game page is the authoritative source on the result: Spurs 122, Thunder 115. ### What happens next in the series? Game 2 is set for May 20 in Oklahoma City, with San Antonio carrying a 1-0 lead into the second meeting. NBA.com’s playoff coverage lists the matchup as Spurs-Thunder in the Western Conference finals, and the opener has already put pressure on the top-seeded Thunder to avoid going to San Antonio down two games. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2)