4 days ago
Throughout nan Western Conference finals, nan San Antonio Spurs hoped that Victor Wembanyama could activity capable magic while he was connected nan tribunal to dress up for nan Oklahoma City Thunder annihilating them while he was disconnected of it. Late successful Game 7 connected Saturday night, nan Thunder must person been licking their chops. Wembanyama picked up his 5th foul early successful nan 4th quarter. The Spurs led by six astatine nan adjacent break successful play, a lead that could vanish successful minutes pinch Wembanyama’s backup, Luke Kornet, connected nan floor. But location was nary prime – Wembanyama checked retired alternatively than consequence fouling out.
Immediately, Thunder halfway Isaiah Hartenstein picked disconnected a walk and bolted down nan level to laic nan shot in. That would person trim nan Spurs’ lead to four, but much importantly whitethorn good person group into mobility a inclination we had seen passim nan series: When Wembanyama sits, nan Thunder feast.
Instead, Kornet – a competent but constricted subordinate – soared into nan aerial pinch Hartenstein and blocked nan shot into nan backboard pinch an almighty thud. The Spurs recovered nan rebound, and Stephon Castle’s short jumper ballooned San Antonio’s lead to eight. “Four-point plaything – that mightiness beryllium nan play of nan crippled correct there,” Reggie Miller said connected nan broadcast.
After a Thunder turnover, Kornet made measurement for Wembanyama. Kornet’s fourth-quarter stint lasted conscionable 54 seconds, but he’d done his job. Then nan Spurs’ talented, youthful halfway did theirs to complete a 111-103 win that proved acquisition isn’t ever important successful nan NBA playoffs.
Though nan Spurs and Thunder are headlined by bonzer stars successful Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, playoff hoops is astir depth. For astir of nan series, nan Thunder won that battle. Their superb chair sometimes outscored their starters. Such is nan wealthiness of talent successful nan Thunder roster that their second-best player, Jalen Williams, and a captious violative engine, Ajay Mitchell, sat retired games pinch injuries, and astatine times they were hardly missed. But successful Game 7, only Gilgeous-Alexander was connected song. He outscored nan remainder of nan Thunder’s starters connected his own, 35-31. By nan 4th quarter, he was exhausted. The Thunder sewage 14 fourth-quarter points from Cason Wallace, but cipher other could meaningfully spot in. They were undone by what is usually their biggest strength.
The Spurs, successful contrast, sewage captious contributions from everybody: Kornet’s block. Keldon Johnson deed 2 three-pointers. Dylan Harper took a agelong 3 complete Gilgeous-Alexander, ill-advised astatine first glance, and nailed it. De’Aaron Fox splashed a tricky three-pointer. So did Julian Champagnie, who made six of 10 for nan crippled aft struggling to find his changeable for astir of nan series. Wembanyama played nan last fewer minutes foul-free; pinch his teammates lightening his burden, he ne'er really had to return a risk.
Big picture, it’s shocking to spot nan defending champions eliminated. Oklahoma City won 24 of their first 25 games this play – moreover without Williams – and location were murmurs that nan NBA should conscionable springiness them nan trophy already. The Spurs weren’t moreover considered contenders astatine first, but 3 wins complete nan Thunder successful December corrected that belief and revealed cracks successful nan defending champions. This consequence is what those games suggested was possible.
You could still make nan lawsuit that, afloat healthy, nan Thunder are nan champion squad successful nan league. Gilgeous-Alexander was mostly mediocre this series; and erstwhile he yet stepped up successful Game 7, his teammates regressed. Chet Holmgren was invisible capable to make ghosts jealous; he’ll dream that invisibility lasts truthful he tin evade nan media pile-on that’s judge to come. And contempt each that, nan Spurs had to triumph a tight, tricky Game 7 connected nan roadworthy to triumph this series. The Thunder’s defense remains nan golden standard, a whirling wide of swatting hands and waving arms that ventures correct up to nan statement of what will tie a referee’s whistle and nary further. They will beryllium backmost adjacent season, astir apt healthier and better.
Many will beryllium gladsome to spot them depart nan playoffs. Gilgeous-Alexander’s proficiency for drafting fouls has ne'er been popular, but fans’ distaste for his methods has amplified this season. ESPN’s Jay Williams did a conception connected Gilgeous-Alexander’s wont of falling complete successful nan pursuit of fouls. Earlier successful nan series, Hartenstein pulled Castle’s hairsbreadth nether nan basket, which someway went unpunished. Other teams effort to manipulate foul calls, but nary arsenic consistently, shamelessly, precisely, annoyingly, aliases successfully arsenic nan Thunder. They play effective, unpopular basketball, and moreover if everyone connected Earth teamed up to chant “FLOPPER!” astatine them they would still transportation connected pinch their tactics.
But there’s nary denying their greatness. They came person to repeating arsenic champions than anybody since nan highest Golden State Warriors. Wonderful hoops teams successful nan 2025 Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers person tried and grounded to hit nan Thunder successful a Game 7. The communicative of nan Spurs-Thunder rivalry was powered by Wembanyama’s evident disdain for Holmgren, his desire for Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP award. If winning nan title is nan Spurs’ dream, beating nan Oklahoma City juggernaut was their desire.
When nan buzzer sounded, Wembanyama shouted and cried, biting his fist for illustration he wanted to eat it, and clawing astatine his caput for illustration it was excessively mini to incorporate nan ensuing burst of joy. The New York Knicks are up adjacent successful nan NBA finals. They’re amended rested than nan Spurs, did good against them successful nan regular season, and are connected an 11-game winning streak. But correct now, pinch nan embers of Game 7 still warm, it’s difficult to ideate thing successful nan finals that could matter much than this.
