Victor Wembanyama produced a sensational all-round performance as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 after double overtime in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
Wembanyama dominated both ends of the court, finishing with 41 points and 24 rebounds in a historic playoff outing. The 22-year-old became the youngest player in NBA history to register a 40-point, 20-rebound game in the playoffs, surpassing a long-standing record previously held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The Spurs star delivered several clutch moments during the thriller, including a deep three-pointer late in the first overtime that forced a second extra period. He also converted a crucial dunk-and-one over Thunder center Chet Holmgren before San Antonio eventually pulled away.
Rookie Dylan Harper also played a major role for San Antonio with 24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and seven steals in a remarkable postseason performance. Harper became the only rookie since Magic Johnson to post such numbers in a conference finals game.
The defeat marked a frustrating night for reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who struggled with efficiency despite recording 24 points and 12 assists. The Thunder guard shot just 7-of-23 from the field as the Spurs applied relentless defensive pressure throughout the contest.
Alex Caruso kept Oklahoma City in the game with a playoff career-high 31 points, while Jalen Williams added 26 points for the Thunder. However, San Antonio’s composure in the overtime periods helped them steal home-court advantage in the series opener.
The result continued the growing rivalry between the young Spurs core led by Wembanyama and the defending champion Thunder side, which had entered the series as favourites after an unbeaten playoff run.
Discussion about this post