Spurs stun Thunder in wild double-OT WCF thriller

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Hoops fans, this is only the first game.

Everybody, please fasten your seatbelts, because the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder are taking you on a crazy roller-coaster ride.

On May 19, 2026, the Spurs pulled off a momentum-boosting double-overtime win to frustrate Oklahoma, 122-115, in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center.

After a thousand jabs in regulation, the two best teams in the West needed extra periods to settle the score, and it was San Antonio that delivered the fatal hook in the final overtime as it outplayed the defending champions on both ends of the floor.

Up by 10 points in the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter, the Spurs looked comfortable operating on the road after their defensive masterclass slowed down Oklahoma’s high-octane attack.

However, in the next four minutes, the Thunder’s grit and championship pedigree were on full display after they sent San Antonio into a scoring drought while inching within a point, 91-90, off an Alex Caruso cutting layup at the 3:24 mark.

Devin Vassell answered the call for the Spurs after draining a much-needed 3-pointer from the right corner, increasing their lead to four points, but another Oklahoma avalanche helped the Thunder retake the driver’s seat.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trimmed Oklahoma’s deficit to a deuce after a perimeter jumper, while Caruso broke the Spurs’ hearts after giving Oklahoma a 95-94 lead with a trey from the top of the key.

The next sequences happened like a blur after both teams exchanged big shots down the stretch, especially SGA and Wembanyama, who both scored their team’s final baskets for the 101-all deadlock.

San Antonio had the chance to win the game with 3.1 seconds left, but Wembanyama’s attempt was swatted away by Chet Holmgren to force OT.

It was the Spurs who struck first as Stephon Castle and Wembanyama propelled San Antonio to a four-point lead, but Oklahoma answered and stole the cushion after Jalen Williams’ coast-to-coast dunk.

Trailing by three points with only 31.4 seconds left, Wembanyama drained the biggest 3-pointer of the game after cashing in a deep trifecta near the logo to tie the ballgame at 108-all.

For the second time, the Spurs were given a chance to end the game, but their game-winning alley-oop attempt to Castle was disrupted by Caruso, who timed his jump well to swipe the ball.

Eager to draw first blood in front of a raucous crowd of 18,203 Thunder fans, San Antonio put the nail in the coffin after dominating Oklahoma in the paint to set the tone in the second OT.

Oklahoma showed some fight after Williams converted a big trey to pull within a point, 115-114, but the Spurs finished the show on the road with a 7-1 closing run, courtesy of Wembanyama, Castle, Vassell, and Dylan Harper.

Vassell made the biggest block in double OT on Holmgren’s follow-up attempt, followed by Wembanyama’s dagger dunk that increased San Antonio’s lead to six points, 120-114, with only 22 seconds left.

Wembanyama’s Western Conference Finals debut was nothing but spectacular after he became the youngest NBA player to record a 40-20 game, surpassing the previous record held by the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Aside from that, Wembanyama also joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only NBA players to achieve at least 40 points and 20 rebounds in a Conference Finals debut.

After playing 48 minutes, the 22-year-old superstar led San Antonio with 41 points, 24 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and a steal.

Backstopping Wembanyama were Harper and Castle, who delivered 24 and 17 markers, respectively, while Vassell and Sixth Man of the Year Keldon Johnson each had 13 points.

On the other hand, Oklahoma received a boost from the returning Williams, who top-scored his team with 26 points, but the newly crowned back-to-back MVP, SGA, was held to a dismal 7-of-23 shooting from the field for 24 points.

Can Oklahoma bounce back and avoid a disastrous start? Or will the resilient San Antonio squad continue to shock the world and go up 2-0?

Fact-check note: I checked the NBA schedule lookup for Spurs-Thunder on May 19, 2026, but it returned no listed game, so please verify the matchup, score, and playoff details before publication.