An eight-minute scoreless stretch in the third quarter blew the game open, as San Antonio ran away to a 118-91 win that forces a winner-takes-all Game 7. Victor Wembanyama led the charge with 28 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, and the Spurs' defence and bench bursts settled the contest. Game 7 is set for Saturday in Oklahoma City, with the winner advancing to face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.

San Antonio set the tone early, but Oklahoma City still managed to trail by only seven at halftime despite a difficult night for its star. Wembanyama made his first two shots, including two 3-pointers in the opening minutes, and rejected Shai Gilgeous-Alexander inside the first 90 seconds as the Spurs opened a 9-2 lead.

Third-quarter surge blew the game open

The contest changed irreversibly after the break when the Spurs ran off a long unanswered streak in the third quarter and turned a close game into a rout. Oklahoma City endured an eight-minute scoreless stretch in the period, at one point missing 13 field-goal attempts in a row, while San Antonio stretched the margin past 25 and never looked back. The third-quarter run was as much about defence as it was about finishing in transition; the Spurs forced turnovers, pushed the pace and converted repeatedly on the other end.

Wembanyama's influence went beyond his scoring. The seven-foot-four Frenchman, this season's NBA Defensive Player of the Year, altered Oklahoma City's interior plans and anchored a Spurs defence that dominated the glass and limited second-chance opportunities. He finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, and his early rim protection set the tone for a game in which the Thunder found points hard to come by.

Mastheads

San Antonio attacked Oklahoma City on several fronts. Perimeter defence crowded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander into an off night; he finished with 15 points on 6-for-18 shooting as the Spurs repeatedly sent doubles and applied physical on-ball coverage. Bench scoring proved decisive for the Spurs. Dylan Harper supplied 18 points while other reserves provided timely scoring, giving San Antonio reliable offense when the starters rested.

Oklahoma City received limited support around Gilgeous-Alexander. Chet Holmgren grabbed 11 rebounds alongside 10 points, and Jalen Williams, returning from a hamstring issue, had limited impact in a brief appearance.

The Thunder's inability to find consistent offence beyond Shai, combined with long scoring droughts, left them unable to stem the Spurs' momentum in the second half.

The game's physical edge was notable throughout. San Antonio embraced contact, and several hard plays showed the intensity on both ends of the court. After the win Wembanyama captured that mood plainly: "We ain't done nothing yet," he said, speaking for the Spurs as they kept their season alive.

For Oklahoma City, the questions will be whether their supporting cast can rediscover its shot and how the team will respond to San Antonio's interior presence. For the Spurs, Game 7 offers a simple but brutal test: can the team carry its third-quarter form and its defensive aggression back into enemy territory on Saturday?

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Game 7 is Saturday in Oklahoma City; Wembanyama's 'We ain't done nothing yet' will be the Spurs' rallying cry as they travel for a winner-takes-all match, the victor earning the right to face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.

This article was created with AI assistance.