Thunder Surge Past Spurs, One Win Away from Back-to-Back Finals Berth

Thunder Surge Past Spurs, One Win Away from Back-to-Back Finals Berth

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a crucial 127-114 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, putting them one win away from a second consecutive NBA Finals appearance. Despite a slow start where he missed his first four shots, Gilgeous-Alexander found his rhythm, ultimately scoring 32 points. His resilience was key as he helped the Thunder recover from an early eight-point deficit, contributing significantly to their 11-point lead at halftime. In the third quarter, the Thunder surged ahead with a quick nine-point run, solidifying their 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. Although he only made 7 of 19 shots from the field, Gilgeous-Alexander excelled at the free-throw line, hitting 16 of 17 attempts. Reflecting on his performance, he noted, "If it was four or five of me out there, we would've been down 20 after the first quarter. [I] probably should never start like that again." Key contributions also came from Jared McCain, who, after a challenging start, scored 20 points, and Alex Caruso, who rebounded from a scoreless game four to add 22 points. The Thunder's balanced effort positions them strongly as they aim for the Finals.

Source: BBC Sport - 2026-05-27