The Spurs look to regain the series edge in a pivotal Game 3 despite injuries and turnover woes to start the Western Conference Finals. | Live updates below
SAN ANTONIO — The Western Conference Finals shift to San Antonio on Friday night with the series tied 1-1 after the Oklahoma City Thunder defended home court in Game 2.
The Spurs stunned the top-seeded Thunder in double-overtime in the series opener before OKC responded with a 122-113 victory Wednesday, setting the stage for a pivotal Game 3 at Frost Bank Center. Despite the loss, San Antonio returns to the Alamo City with home-court advantage after splitting the first two games on the road.
Victor Wembanyama once again anchored the Spurs with another dominant all-around performance, finishing Game 2 with 21 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and four blocks. Devin Vassell provided a major spark offensively, scoring 22 points while knocking down six 3-pointers. Stephon Castle also delivered offensively with a team-high 25 points and eight assists, highlighted by a thunderous dunk that quickly became one of the postseason’s most replayed moments.
San Antonio’s biggest issue continues to be ball security. The Spurs committed 21 turnovers in Game 2, leading directly to 27 Thunder points and allowing Oklahoma City to attempt 10 more shots in a game decided by single digits.
The injury situation was one of the biggest storylines entering Friday night, with De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper both questionable to play after dealing with different injuries. Half an hour before tipoff, the Spurs announced that both young guards – combining for 33.2 points per game in these playoffs – would be available.
Without their two primary point guards, the Spurs struggled to organize offensively late in Game 2. Castle’s move into primary ball-handling responsibilities resulted in nine turnovers after he committed 11 in Game 1. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson has emphasized ball security as San Antonio looks to clean up the mistakes that may have cost the team a chance at a 2-0 series lead.
Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams, who has scored 17.8 points per game across four playoff matchups, will be out after reaggravating a hamstring injury he’s dealt with for much of the season.
The Thunder looked far more like the team that dominated the regular season in Game 2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bounced back from a quiet Game 1 with 30 points and nine assists, while the Thunder bench proved decisive with 47 points. Alex Caruso led the second unit with 17 points, and Isaiah Hartenstein responded after struggling in the opener by posting a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT as the Spurs look to stay unbeaten at home against Oklahoma City this season and take control of the Western Conference Finals.
See live updates below.
HALFTIME: Spurs 51, Thunder 58
Despite a 15-0 run to start Game 3, the Spurs allowed OKC to claw back before ultimately taking a 7-point lead heading into the locker rooms for halftime.
2Q, 3:56 remaining: Spurs 50, Thunder 45
After SGA left the game for some rest, the Thunder’s bench came alive and helped take back the lead before he returned with four minutes left in the 2nd quarter.
2Q, 7:25 remaining: Spurs 41, Thunder 41
OKC started the second frame on a 9-3 run to take their first lead of the game, but the Spurs quickly responded and tied it back up with a few threes of their own.
End of 1Q: Spurs 31, Thunder 26
It’s been a competitive start to Game 3 of what’s been a competitive series so far. After San Antonio turned the ball over 44 times in Games 1 and 2, they coughed it up four times in the first quarter; but the Thunder turned it over five times thanks to strong early defense from the Silver & Black.
De’Aaron Fox has nine points to lead all players early. Even more crucially, San Antonio kept MVP Shai-Gilgeous Alexander scoreless in the first dozen minutes of play.
1Q, 3:02 remaining: Spurs 24, Thunder 19
Oklahoma City responded to San Antonio’s game-opening 15-0 run with a 19-9 sprint of its own to pull nearly even.
The Spurs are reaping the rewards of being at full-strength in the first frame; De’Aaron Fox has six points for San Antonio after he missed the first two games of the series. Vassell has six points of his own to match.
1Q, 10:10 remaining: Spurs 10, Thunder 0
Well there’s a way to begin the first Western Conference Finals game in San Antonio in nine years.
The Spurs have hit three of their first four shots – two of them from downtown – to launch themselves into a 10-0 lead against the defending champions early one. The treys are courtesy of Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell, with De’Aaron Fox also scurrying to the bucket for the first Western Conference Finals points of his career.
Pregame
Less than an hour before tipoff, the Spurs announced that both De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper were available to play in Game 3.
Fox will make his Western Conference Finals debut after an ankle sprain kept him out the first two games against the Thunder. Harper, who had started in his place, left Game 2 after suffering an adductor injury. Fox and Harper have been the third and fourth-leading scorers for the Spurs, respectively, during this playoffs run, with Harper enjoying a breakout postseason debut in his rookie year.
Wemby honored again
In an expected encore award to his first NBA Defensive Player of the Year accolade, Victor Wembanyama was named to the All-Defensive First Team along with Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren, Detroit’s Ausar Thompson, Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert and Boston’s Derrick White.
But only Wemby’s selection was unanimous, mirroring the way he won Defensive Player of the Year honors.
The selections were announced before Game 3 on Friday night. Stephon Castle and Houston’s Amen Thompson both just missed the cut, each receiving the most points of NBA players who didn’t make the All-Defensive First or Second Teams.