After the Oklahoma City Thunder dropped Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, OKC bounced back in Game 2 with a statement win that featured plenty of physical defense, exciting highlights, and plenty of drama. Now the Thunder is headed to San Antonio to take on the Spurs for a series-swinging Game 3. While it’s too soon to call this meeting a must-win, neither team wants to fall behind, and the intensity is not likely to drop off anytime soon.
Both the Thunder and the Spurs are dealing with key injuries: Jalen Williams is dealing with hamstring soreness, De’Aaron Fox is still battling a sprained ankle, and Dylan Harper has right adductor soreness. All three are questionable to play, and whether any one of them suits up for this game, both teams are deep enough to do battle regardless.
The big story in Game 2 was physicality, specifically from Isaiah Hartenstein towards Victor Wembanyama, even though San Antonio’s guards haven’t been able to keep their hands off Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It doesn’t matter what narrative is being spun around the Thunder lately; the winner in these head-to-head matchups has typically been the more physical team. The Thunder and the Spurs are both known for playing extremely physical defense, so whoever can fight through that and score anyway comes away with the victory.
Wemby had a monster stat line in Game 1, and SGA looked like the reigning MVP in Game 2. Either one—or both—could have another big night in Game 3, but as the series goes longer, the team with the better “other guys” is going to have a much better chance at pulling out the win. OKC is about as deep as they come, but San Antonio has its fair share of depth.
While the Thunder enters this one as a slight underdog, I wouldn’t count the reigning champs out. Surely OKC expects adjustments from the Spurs, and don’t be surprised if there is an overcorrection from the officials due to the discourse around OKC’s aggressive play in Game 2. Still, the Thunder have been successful in clutch games, an area where the Spurs have struggled this postseason. When it comes down to it, there’s something to be said about the experience of the reigning champ vs. a young, inexperienced, albeit talented squad.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 7:30 PM CT
Location: Frost Bank Center (San Antonio, Texas)
Television: NBA on NBC and Peacock
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live tweets and discussion during the game
Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, San Antonio Spurs Official Game Notes
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Ajay Mitchell
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Chet Holmgren
- C: Isaiah Hartenstein
Spurs
- PG: De’Aaron Fox
- SG: Stephon Castle
- SF: Devin Vassell
- PF: Justin Champagnie
- C: Victor Wembanyama
Injury Report
Thunder
- Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery) is OUT.
- Jalen Williams (left hamstring soreness) is OUT.
Spurs
- De’Aaron Fox (sprained right ankle) is OUT.
- Dylan Harper (right adductor soreness) is OUT.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 32-34 against the Spurs in the regular season (22-11 at home, 10-22 away, 0-1 at neutral location) and 11-9 against them in the playoffs (8-3 at home, 3-6 away).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City, the Thunder has won the season series with the Spurs 5 times, lost 8 times, and tied 5 times.
- The Thunder went 1-4 against the Spurs in the regular season (1-1 at home, 0-2 on the road, and 0-1 at a neutral location).
- OKC is tied with San Antonio 1-1 in the Western Conference Finals (1-1 at home, 0-0 on the road).