Thunder Advance to Finals as Wembanyama Struggles in Spurs' Loss

Thunder Advance to Finals as Wembanyama Struggles in Spurs' Loss

Victor Wembanyama faced a rare off night, scoring only 20 points as the San Antonio Spurs fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder with a score of 127-114 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. This defeat puts the Spurs at a 3-2 disadvantage in the best-of-seven series. Wembanyama, who previously showcased impressive performances with 41 and 33 points in earlier games, struggled to find his rhythm. In contrast, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points, while Alex Caruso contributed 22 points off the bench, marking a significant improvement from their previous game where they only scored 82 points. The Thunder surged ahead by 20 points in the third quarter, but the Spurs managed to narrow the gap to eight. Controversial missed calls in the final minute seemed to frustrate the Spurs, impacting their chance to close the deficit further. Ultimately, Oklahoma City maintained a double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter, showcasing a stark turnaround from their 21-point loss in Game 4. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised his team's ability to bounce back, emphasizing the importance of learning from tough games. Meanwhile, Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 24 points, supported by Julian Champagnie with 22 points. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson acknowledged the need for improvement to compete effectively against the Thunder. Game 6 is set for Thursday in San Antonio, and if necessary, Game 7 will return to Oklahoma City on Saturday. The New York Knicks, who swept the Cleveland Cavaliers, await the winner for the NBA Finals, starting June 3.

Source: Sky Sports - 2026-05-27