For a team that’s downplayed the merits of experience, the Spurs can point to the fact that they’re the only team to beat OKC in consecutive games this season.
SAN ANTONIO — The young San Antonio Spurs have made a point of remarking that their deep playoff run is proof that experience as a barometer for success might not be all it’s cracked up to be when the lights are brightest—and that’s only when the team, thriving off their confidence and chemistry, has been directly asked about the experience factor at all.
The team’s core has been through the highs of the playoffs aplenty: double-digit comebacks, historic performances and playing in front of a championship-hungry fanbase.
Now comes a point for Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and company to collect a new experience together: taking the court with their backs against the wall after losing Game 5 in Oklahoma City, a defeat that gave the Thunder a 3-2 series edge in the Western Conference Finals.
“I think they were the more desperate team tonight,” the Spurs’ Julian Champagnie said after the Tuesday loss. “I think they wanted the game more than we did. We were a step late to a lot of stuff tonight.”
San Antonio had some lackluster offensive performances from players who have been reliable for much of the playoffs, particularly on the parts of De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper; those three combined for just 20 points as the Spurs shot 40% from the floor.
The real challenge was on defense.
After limiting the Thunder to 82 points in a Game 4 win – Oklahoma City’s lowest offensive output in any game, playoffs or regular season, since December 2021 – the Spurs allowed 127 in Game 5. OKC shot 48% from the floor while making 44% of their 3-point attempts.
Once the defending champs got out to a double-digit lead midway through the second frame, they never looked back.
“There were a lot of times (where) we were just in wrong positions or wrong coverages or (making) poor decisions,” head coach Mitch Johnson said. “On a game like tonight, you give yourself no chance if that’s the level you’re going to play to consistently for the 48 minutes.”
Oklahoma City’s largest lead was 20, when NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit a pullup shot to make the score 78-58 with 9:32 remaining in the third frame. The Spurs never got closer than eight points from that point on.
Castle conceded that the Silver & Black have clawed back from major deficits, but said shots simply weren’t falling even when the Spurs created opportunities.
“We’ve seen 20-point comebacks before,” he said. “Just playing it possession by possession and trying to make the right reads and take the right shots. But I think it all starts defensively. I think you hone in on that and you give yourself a chance.”
Now comes a chance to respond back on their home court—and San Antonio has been strong in its responses this year. The team is 18-6 after a loss in the regular season and playoffs, scoring an average of 117.6 points in those matchups.
“Find a way back here for Game 7,” Castle said about the mentality going into Game 6. “I feel like we’ve been great when we’re desperate all year. So I’m excited to see how we’ll respond.”
But Johnson made clear the team will need its Defensive Player of the Year and All-NBA First Team selection, especially, to respond. Wembanyama finished with 20 points but went just 4-of-15 from the field, including 0-of-5 from downtown.
“He’s gotta take more than 15 shots, even with the free throws. He’s gonna have to score more than 20 points, for sure.”
“He’s our best player,” Castle added. “We need him to be aggressive. I feel like him being aggressive opens up shots for other guys.”
Wembanyama didn’t speak to media after Game 5, and on Wednesday afternoon ESPN Insider Shams Charania reported he was warned by the NBA about “violating media access rules” after skipping media obligations.
For San Antonio to move on, the Thunder will have to lose twice in a row.
That’s something they’ve done just five times all season, and never in this playoff run as they look to defend their title.
But on this point San Antonio, despite not being all about the merits of experience this month, can point to some from the regular season: They were the only team to beat the Thunder in back-to-back games, when they notched a pair of statement wins on Dec. 23 and Christmas Day.
First, of course, they need to win in what could be their last home game of the season. They’re 5-3 in Frost Bank Center this postseason, but the Thunder again are at risk of missing the services of starters Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, the team’s second and fourth-leading scorers, respectively, in these playoffs.
“I think we’ll be ready to play next game,” Champagnie said, speaking calmly, as though Wednesday were just a preseason tune-up. “Obviously it’s a win-or-go-home situation, so I’m 100% sure everybody will come to play.”
Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. CT at Frost Bank Center.