Spurs beat Thunder in double overtime

Victor Wembanyama gave San Antonio the kind of Game 1 that changes a series before it leaves the opening city. The Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in double overtime on Monday, May 18, at Paycom Center, taking a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference finals and stealing home-court advantage. Wembanyama finished with 41 points and 24 rebounds, and the Spurs closed the second overtime with the stronger legs and cleaner possessions. Oklahoma City had entered the night on a nine-game playoff winning streak dating to Game 7 of last season’s Finals, according to NBA.com. ### How did San Antonio get out of Oklahoma City with Game 1? San Antonio won the rebounding battle 61-40 and got through 58 minutes without losing its shape against the Thunder’s pressure defense. NBA.com said Wembanyama sealed the game with two dunks in the final minute, including one that became a three-point play. Dylan Harper gave the Spurs a second creator when the game stretched beyond regulation. (nba.com) Harper finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and seven steals, while Stephon Castle added 17 points and 11 assists, according to NBA.com’s live recap. ### What made Wembanyama’s night stand out even by playoff standards? Wembanyama became the youngest player with at least 40 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game, according to the Associated Press report carried on NBA.com. The 22-year-old also became, alongside Wilt Chamberlain, one of the only players to post 40 points and 20 rebounds in a conference finals debut, NBA.com said. (api-hub-qa.nba.com) Victor Wembanyama called it “a great effort — from everybody,” after the win, according to AP. NBA.com said he logged 49 minutes and added three blocks in a performance that carried San Antonio through the fourth quarter and both overtime periods. ### Where did the Thunder lose control? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points and had 12 assists on the night he received his second straight Most Valuable Player trophy, but he shot 7 for 23 from the field, AP reported. (nba.com) NBA.com said San Antonio crowded the lane and kept him from getting into rhythm for long stretches. Alex Caruso kept Oklahoma City in the game with 31 points off the bench and eight 3-pointers, the second-highest scoring game of his career, according to AP. (nba.com) Jalen Williams, back from a six-game absence caused by a hamstring strain, added 26 points, but the Thunder could not match San Antonio on the glass or finish the final overtime. ### How much did injuries and absences shape the opener? De’Aaron Fox did not play for San Antonio because of ankle stiffness, AP reported, which made the Spurs’ offensive balance more notable. The Spurs still placed six players in double figures and got enough ballhandling from Harper and Castle to survive Oklahoma City’s traps and late-clock pressure. (nba.com) Jalen Williams’ return mattered for Oklahoma City because it restored a primary scorer and secondary playmaker. AP said it was his first game back after missing six games with a hamstring strain. ### How rare was a game like this, and what comes next? Monday’s opener was the sixth Game 1 in NBA playoff history to go to double overtime and the first since a Spurs-Warriors game in 2013, AP reported. (nba.com) NBA.com also noted that teams that win Game 1 of a conference finals have gone on to win the series 78.2% of the time in league history. Game 2 is set for Wednesday, May 20, at 8:30 p.m. ET in Oklahoma City, according to NBA.com’s series page. The remaining schedule lists Game 3 on May 22 in San Antonio and Game 4 on May 24, with Games 5 through 7 if necessary. (nba.com)