Spurs force Game 7 with dominant 118-91 win over the Thunder

Victor Wembanyama set the tone right from the jump knocking down three, 3-pointers in the first quarter and the San Antonio Spurs cruised to a win over the Thunder in Game 6 forcing a decisive game Saturday night in Oklahoma City.

San Antonio led 60-53 at the half with half their field goals coming from beyond the arc. Credit the Spurs’ defense in the third quarter as OKC went ice cold from the field at one point missing 13 straight field goal attempts and going without a point for 7:30. The game was over at that point as San Antonio outscored the Thunder 32-13 in that quarter. The starters for each side watched the fourth from their respective benches as all eyes now point to Saturday night.

Wembanyama finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Spurs. Dylan Harper chipped in 18 off the bench. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was held in check, scoring just 15 points. In only one game in this series SGA shot even 50% as the Spurs have done their homework and have at least consistently bothered the two-time MVP every time he touches the ball through the first six games of the series.

The Western Conference title and a date in the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks is on the line for both teams Saturday night in Oklahoma City on NBC and Peacock.

Credit a determined Spurs team at both ends of the floor as San Antonio dominated Oklahoma City on offense and defense in blowing out the Thunder, 118-91. It is on to Game 7 Saturday night in OKC.

Everyone plays tonight as the Spurs lead the Thunder 110-84 with 4:34 left in the 4th Quarter. Scene set to shift to Oklahoma City for Game 7 Saturday Night.

The San Antonio Spurs have dominated the second half of Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, extending their lead by as many as 28 points by the halfway point of the fourth quarter.

One of the highlights was an alley-oop between Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama, who have been appropriately given the nickname “Area 51" in reference to their respective jersey numbers.

Wembanyama was dominant before being subbed out early in the fourth quarter, tallying 28 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals, three blocks and four three-pointers. As for Castle, the second-year guard contributed 17 points, five rebounds, nine assists, one steal and just one turnover.

Oklahoma City endured their worst scoring quarter of the season as the Spurs outscored them 32-13 in Quarter 3. San Antonio forced OKC into 13 consecutive missed field goals and held the Thunder without a point for 7:30 of the 3rd Quarter. The Spurs lead, 92-66, after Quarter 3. Game 7 is almost a guarantee at this point.

A 13-0 run midway through the 3rd Quarter has the Spurs in control in Game 6. They lead the Thunder, 85-64, with 4:01 remaining in Quarter 3.

Half of the Spurs’ Field Goals are from 3-Point range as they lead the Thunder, 70-60, with 9:35 remaining in Quarter 3.

Thunder C Isaiah Hartenstein spoke before the game about his team’s ability to recognize the moment and not be overwhelmed by it.

“The thing that you take from those experiences is the mental part of it — not getting too high, not getting too low and just going in there knowing you have to come with a certain sense of urgency,” Hartenstein said. “I think our group does a great job of just not being too emotional with it. I think when you go into any playoff game and your emotions are too high or too low; that’s kind of when it doesn’t work for yourself.”

The Thunder will need to dig deep and draw upon that experience to rally and close out this series in the second half tonight.

Odds at Halftime courtesy of DraftKings;

Oklahoma City Thunder (+185)
San Antonio Spurs (-245)

Spread: Spurs -5.5

Total: 225.5

The game opened San Antonio -3.5 with the Total set at 217.5

Victor Wembanyama put together quite the first half in Game 6 with 22 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block as the Spurs lead 60-53 after 24 minutes. Dylan Harper added 12 points off the bench. San Antonio as a team shot 11-25 (44%) from deep. Meanwhile, OKC was just 6-18 (33%) from beyond the arc. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 10 points and 4 assists for the Thunder in the first half.

Rookie Carter Bryant runs over SGA late in the second quarter and gets whistled for a common foul. Officials discussed upgrading it, but it is determined to be a common foul. Free throws to OKC with 1:35 left before halftime.

With their backs against the wall, the San Antonio Spurs have come out with the right energy during the first half of Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals.

Among the contributors has been rookie wing Carter Bryant, who has given the Spurs good minutes on both ends of the floor in the first half. That includes a powerful two-handed dunk that gave San Antonio a 55-43 lead during the second quarter.

After a push from the Thunder, the Spurs get a pair of buckets from Dylan Harper and Victor Wembanyama to stretch the lead to double digits, 51-41, with 5:29 left before halftime.

OKC outscores Spurs 9-7 in opening 3:13 of Quarter 2 to pull within 11. San Antonio leads 42-31. Wemby with 13 points.

A monster First Quarter from beyond the arc for the Spurs who lead 35-22 after 12 minutes. Wembanyama (3), Vassell (2), Harper, Johnson, and Champagnie all connect for 3 as San Antonio goes 8-14 from deep. Wemby leads all scorers with 11 points. SGA and Hartenstein each have six points for OKC.

Spurs go Cold as Thunder step up defensively and pull to within 14-13 with 6 minutes left in Quarter 1.

Champagnie and a Pair of Wemby 3’s have the Spurs Out to a 9-2 lead. Timeout OKC.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will be healthier as they look to close out the Western Conference Finals. Jalen Williams, who missed Games 3, 4 and 5 after aggravating a left hamstring strain suffered during the first round, is good to go for Thursday’s Game 6 in San Antonio.

With Ajay Mitchell sidelined by a strained calf, Jared McCain moved into the starting lineup for Game 5. The second-year guard played well, finishing with 20 points on 7-of-19 shooting from the field.

McCain will remain in the starting lineup for Game 6, which likely means that J-Dub’s minutes will be managed closely. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein complete Oklahoma City’s starting five.

Courtesy of DraftKings:

Oklahoma City Thunder (+140)
San Antonio Spurs (-166)

Spread: Spurs -3.5

Total: 218.5

NBC Sports Sr. NBA Writer Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) gives his initial take on how the injury to Robinson affects the Knicks:

“This is a blow to the solid eight-man rotation Knicks coach Mike Brown has leaned on through the playoffs. Robinson is a high-level rim protector and an offensive rebounder — he averaged 4.2 offensive rebounds a game during the regular season. He was key in that role against the Spurs when the Knicks beat them in the NBA Cup Finals back in December.”

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Game 1 San Antonio 122 Oklahoma City 115 Wembanyama 41pts, 24 rebounds
Game 2 Oklahoma City 122 San Antonio 113 Gilgeous-Alexander 30pts
Game 3 Oklahoma City 123 San Antonio 108 Gilgeous-Alexander 26pts
Game 4 San Antonio 103 Oklahoma City 82 Wembanyama 33pts
Game 5 Oklahoma City 127 San Antonio 114 Gilgeous-Alexander 32pts

For all the talk about matchups, defense, rotations and depth (not to mention a poorly officiated game), the real difference in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals was much more basic:

Oklahoma City made the play harder adjustment. The Spurs did not.

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