Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder tips off Monday night.
These Western Conference opponents met five times during the regular season, including an extra matchup in the 2026 NBA Cup. San Antonio had Oklahoma City’s number in their regular-season series, winning four of the five matchups.
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The Thunder finished the regular season with the league’s best record, 64-18, having advanced to the conference finals relatively well-rested after back-to-back sweeps of the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers on the back of star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who just took home his second consecutive NBA MVP award.
San Antonio had a slightly more drawn-out path to get to this stage of the postseason. As the No. 2 seed in the West, the Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round in five games and needed six games to advance past the Minnesota Timberwolves in the conference semifinals, led by unanimous Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama.
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Ahead of Game 1, the Thunder are -260 favorites to win the series and -170 odds to win the Larry O’Brien.
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Spurs-Thunder start time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: Paycom Center | Oklahoma City
TV channel: NBC
Live stream: Peacock
Follow along with Yahoo Sports as the San Antonio Spurs travel to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
Live26 updatesMon, May 18, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 7:44 PM PDT
Ryan Young
Well here comes SGA. He just got around Victor Wembanyama and managed to convert a huge and-one. If he makes the free throw, we’ve got a four point game.
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 7:32 PM PDT
Ryan Young
The Spurs aren’t slowing down, and keep pushing their lead back to double digits every time the Thunder look like they’re about to make a move.
With about 8 minutes left on the clock, OKC is running out of time here…
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 7:25 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Thunder didn’t capitalize on the non-Wemby minutes, and he re-entered the game with San Antonio holding a 70-67 lead.
From there, the Spurs finished the third quarter on a 10-6 run and will enter the fourth quarter with an 80-73 lead. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has just 10 points. OKC needs a big fourth quarter from its MVP to mount a rally.
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 7:11 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Spurs answered the Thunder run and are back on top, 66-63. Can they maintain their advantage while Wemby’s on the bench? The Thunder need to take advantage when Wemby’s out of the game.
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 7:01 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Thunder aren’t shrinking from a poor first half.
OKC’s opened the third quarter on a 14-6 run and is back out in front, 58-57 at the first break of the second half.
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 6:49 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Spurs
Victor Wembanyama: 14 points, 10 rebounds, 6 of 11 from the floor
Stephon Castle: 11 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 5 turnovers
Dylan Harper: 7 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 4 points, 5 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 of 5 from field
Chet Holmgren: 5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 of 1 from the field
Alex Caruso: 16 points, 4 of 7 from 3
Team stats
Spurs shooting: 42% from field, 36.8% (7 of 19) from 3
Thunder shooting: 37% from field, 27.3% (6 of 22) from 3
Spurs rebounds: 29
Thunder rebounds: 20
Spurs turnovers: 6
Thunder turnovers: 5
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 6:40 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Thunder cruised through the first two rounds of the playoffs without a loss. But they didn’t face anything like this Spurs team that beat them three time in four regular-season games.
The Spurs seized early control and take a 51-44 lead into the break following a dominant defensive first half that limited Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren to a combined 9 points on 1-of-6 shooting from the floor.
SGA’s 4 points are his fewest in a playoff first half since 2020.
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 6:25 PM PDT
Jason Owens
This is a play that only Victor Wembanyama makes.
The Spurs star caught a ball in the post with his back to the basket and two OKC defenders around him. In the same motion, he reached up and threw down a dunk between both defenders while barely leaving his feet.
After allowing the Thunder back in, the Spurs have reseized control with a 42-35 lead.
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 6:17 PM PDT
Jason Owens
With Dylan Harper replacing the injured De’Aaron Fox, the Spurs have the youngest starting lineup in conference finals history tonight. So far, it’s led San Antonio to a 36-29 second-quarter lead.
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 6:07 PM PDT
Jason Owens
After digging an 11-2 deficit, OKC went on a 9-0 run and took a 22-19 lead late in the first. And the game will go into the second quarter tied at 27 after an entertaining first.
Alex Caruso and Jalen Williams have 10 points each for OKC. Stephon Castle leads San Antonio with 11, while Wemby has six points and five rebounds.
A hot start to the most anticipated series of the playoffs.
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 5:53 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Thunder are struggling early, but Alex Caruso is singlehandedly keeping them afloat.
He has all seven Thunder points as the Spurs have jumped out to a 12-7 lead. And now he’s guarding Wemby, giving up nearly a foot in height advantage in the process.
No proble for Caruso, who just picked off a pass intended for Wemby for a transition layup on the other end.
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 5:48 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Spurs are off to a 3-of-9 start from the field, but they’re dominating the ball. At the first TV timeout, San Antonio already has a 9-2 rebounding edge and an 11-3 lead.
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 5:44 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Thunder started 0-for-4 from the floor as the Spurs jumped out to a 7-0 lead. And Thunder fans don’t sit down until the first OKC bucket.
Alex Caruso gave them a reprieve with a 3-pointer at the 8:45 mark for the first Thunder points of the game.
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 5:41 PM PDT
Jason Owens
So far, so good for the Spurs. Stephon Castle opened the game with a 3. Victor Wembanyama then drew a foul on a jump shot for a pair of free throws and followed that up with a putback layup for a 7-0 San Antonio lead.
A good start for a Spurs team playing without starting point guard De’Aaron Fox.
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 5:36 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Conference finals matchups don’t get much bigger than this. We’re moments away from tip of the most anticipated series of the playoffs. Let’s go.
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 5:33 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Speaking of MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander … He was just awarded his trophy from commissioner Adam Silver prior to Game 1 introductions. This is officially a habit for the now two-time NBA MVP.
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 5:30 PM PDT
Jason Owens
With De’Aaron Fox out, Dylan Harper will start in the San Antonio backcourt for the biggest game yet of his rookie season.
What a spot for the standout guard with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander staring back at him from the Thunder backcourt and a trip to the NBA Finals at stake.
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 4:38 PM PDT
Ryan Young
The Spurs will be without De’Aaron Fox tonight against the Thunder due to his right ankle injury. The hope, though, is that he can return on Wednesday night.
Mon, May 18, 2026 at 4:30 PM PDT
Nekias Duncan, Steve Jones