After twelve years, the San Antonio Spurs head back to the NBA Finals.
Behind a balanced offensive attack and a massive fourth-quarter push, the Spurs outlasted the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road 111-103 on May 30 in a grueling Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals inside a sold-out Paycom Center.
With the 4-3 series victory, San Antonio secures the Western Conference crown. He advances to face the New York Knicks in the 2026 NBA Finals.
The Spurs’ generational star, Victor Wembanyama, anchored the victory with a team-high 22 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in 42 minutes of action. But it was San Antonio’s perimeter depth and defensive execution down the stretch that ultimately silenced the frantic Oklahoma City crowd.
“Winning the Larry O’Brien (trophy) is a childhood dream,” Wembanyama said. “It is hard to put into words. It is almost like the meaning of my life.”
While Wembanyana, or Wemby, served as the focal point, forward Julian Champagnie provided the necessary scoring punch, dropping 20 points while firing 6-of-10 from three.
San Antonio’s backcourt depth proved equally devastating. Sophomore guard Stephon Castle displayed composure well beyond his league tenure, logging 16 points, six rebounds and six assists. Veteran guard De’Aaron Fox controlled the tempo, adding 15 points and five assists.
In comparison, rookie Dylan Harper sparked the bench unit with 12 points and four rebounds. Sixth Man of the Year awardee Keldon Johnson also chipped in a critical 11 points in limited minutes.
The Spurs jumped out to a 32-25 lead in the opening frame, building a cushion that would prove crucial as the game evolved into a high-stakes chess match. San Antonio shot an efficient 45.5% from the field and 42.5% from three-point range across the entire contest.
Conversely, the Thunder, who captured the title in 2025 with their win over the Indiana Pacers, refused to go quietly in front of their 18,203 (mostly) home fans. All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put together a masterful, iron-man performance, carrying Oklahoma City with a game-high 35 points, nine assists and four rebounds in 43 minutes.
Gilgeous-Alexander repeatedly attacked the paint to keep the Thunder within striking distance, bringing OKC to within three points at the end of the third quarter, 80-77.
“Big game, big moment, win or go home, I just wanted to leave it all out there,” Gilegous-Alexander said after the loss. “Whether the shots went in or didn’t, I wanted to make sure I gave it my all and I was who I was today.”
The Thunder also received strong contributions from:
- Cason Wallace: Notched 17 points and seven rebounds.
- Alex Caruso: Finished with 12 points and five rebounds off the bench.
- Jaylin Williams: Dominated the glass with an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Nevertheless, the Thunder’s frontcourt tandem of forwards Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein struggled to find offensive rhythm against San Antonio’s length, combining for just 11 total points on the night.
The final frame of the Western Conference Finals belonged to San Antonio. Holding a slim three-point edge entering the fourth, San Antonio exploded for 31 points to close out the game.
The Spurs capitalized on paramount second-chance opportunities, outscoring the Thunder 11-0 in second-chance points during the final 12 minutes. After a flurry of late defensive stops — including a chasedown block on Hartenstein courtesy of Luke Cornet — and a statement fast-break dunk by Devin Vassell in the game’s final seconds, the Spurs comfortably punched their championship ticket.
The Spurs take on the Knicks in the 2026 NBA Finals, beginning June 3 in San Antonio.
Contact multimedia & senior sports reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more news, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
