Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back Wednesday night from Monday’s heartbreaking Game 1 loss to do what they do best — fluster their opponent and create mistakes.
The result was a 122-113 win over the the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals. The win fends off a disastrous 0-2 series start at home and sends it to San Antonio tied at 1-1.
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Injuries hit both teams hard
The result did not come without cost for both teams. All-NBA Thunder forward Jalen Williams left the game in the first half with tightness in the same right hamstring that sidelined him for six previous playoff games. He was ruled out in the third quarter.
All-Rookie Spurs guard Dylan Harper left the game in the third quarter with a leg injury and was ruled out before the start of the fourth.
Harper was starting his second consecutive game in place of injured starting point guard De’Aaron Fox, who missed Games 1 and 2 with lingering ankle soreness.
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The severity of Williams’ and Harper’s injuries were not immediately clear. Neither is their status for Game 3. Both teams dug deep Wednesday night in their absence in another hard-fought game on the heels of playing two overtimes Monday night.
SGA bounces back to keep OKC in the series
In the end, Gilgeous-Alexander delivered in Game 2 to counter a poor Game 1 in the face of Victor Wembnayama’s masterpiece. He finished with 30 points, 9 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal to pace the Thunder effort.
After shooting 30.4% from the floor and posting a game-worst minus-15 in the plus/minus column in Game 1, Gilgeous-Alexander shot 50% and finished plus-14 in Game 2.
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He also hit a deep jumper to ice the game in the final minute.
This is the two-time MVP SGA the Thunder need to counter Wembanyama’s Spurs.
It was a balanced scoring effort behind Gilgeous-Alexander as seven Thunder players scored in double figures. Alex Caruso had another strong game after scoring 31 in Game 1 with 17 points, 5 assists and 3 steals while shooting 3 of 4 from 3.
Wallace tallied 12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals while taking Williams’ place alongside the Thunder starters. Ajay Mitchell also posted four steals to go with his 10 points.
But Mitchell also appeared to sustain a lower-body injury that sidelined him for the final minute of the game. The Thunder didn’t provide a status update in the game’s immediate aftermath.
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Turnovers doom Spurs
Mitchell and Wallace led Oklahoma City’s return to its trademark swarming defense as the Thunder forced 21 Spurs turnovers to tilt the game to their advantage.
Wembanyama wasn’t silenced and countered with another strong game after his lofty 41-point, 24-rebound effort in Game 1. He finished with 21 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocks. He also added four turnovers to his tally as one of four Spurs players with double-digit giveaways.
Stephon Castle was efficient when he shot the ball (10 of 17) while tallying a team-high 25 points and 8 assists. But his nine turnovers tarnished his box score for a second consecutive game.
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He’s now up to 20 turnovers in the series after a whopping 11 giveaways in Game 1, the highest tally by a single player in a two-game stretch in playoff history.
The turnovers ultimately sank the Spurs after a hot start from both teams and a San Antonio rally in the third quarter.
The Thunder took control with a 61-51 halftime lead after the teams played to a 31-31 tie through one quarter. The Spurs punched back to tie the game at 69 in the third. But the rally was short-lived as Oklahoma City surged back to an 87-77 advantage before the quarter was over.
From there, the Spurs didn’t mount another challenge. And the series shifts to San Antonio for Game 3 Friday night (8:30 p.m. ET, NBC) tied at 1-1.
Live coverage is over34 updatesWed, May 20, 2026 at 6:38 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 8:08 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 30 points on 12-of-24 shooting, 9 assists, 4 rebounds
Isaiah Hartenstein: 10 rebounds, 13 rebounds (8 offensive)
Victor Wembanyama: 21 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists 4 blocks
Stephon Castle: 25 points, 8 assists, 9 turnovers
The big difference: 21 turnovers for the Spurs, nine for the Thunder.
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 8:02 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Stephon Castle is up to 20 turnovers between Games 1 and 2, and his latest gives OKC the ball back up 5 with a minute left. San Antonio has committed 21 total tonight.
Meanwhile, Ajay Mitchell is dealing with an apparent injury, in a game that has already seen two significant players leave.
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 7:56 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Isaiah Hartenstein is up to eight offensive rebounds (11 total) tonight. He’s been huge for OKC, as his physicality has helped prevent Victor Wembanyama from taking over again.
It’s exactly what he needed after a rough Game 1, and perhaps aided by some more passive officiating.
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 7:44 PM PDT
Jack Baer
OKC responds with a quick 8-0 run to expand the lead to double digits with seven minutes left.
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 7:39 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 7:36 PM PDT
Jack Baer
With Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander taking a breather, the Spurs open the fourth-quarter on a 9-3 run, capped off by a Harrison Barnes 3-pointer. Victor Wembanyama also did another tip-in dunk off his own shot. It’s been a fun game.
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 7:34 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 7:33 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Both teams are dealing with injuries. So far, the Thunder have persevered without Jalen Williams and enter the fourth quarter with a 96-88 lead. Neither Williams (hamstring) nor Dylan Harper (leg) will return.
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 7:22 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Chet Holmgren just drove for a baseline dunk on a nice pass from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and OKC’s lead is up to 87-77 after San Antonio tied the game at 69.
There’s still no word on Spurs guard Dylan Harper who grabbed his thigh and walked to the locker room. Thunder forward Jalen Williams won’t return with a hamstring injury.
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 7:15 PM PDT
Jason Owens
With Jalen Williams out, the Spurs started the second half on a 16-7 run to tie the game at 69-69.
The Thunder have so far weathered the storm and hold a 77-73 lead with 4:50 remaining in the third quarter. And Spurs guard Dylan Harper just walked to the locker room after grabbing his thigh following a fall.
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 7:07 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Thunder ruled Jalen Williams out with hamstring tightness early in the third quarter. A big blow for OKC in a tough series.
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 6:58 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 15 points, 5 assists, 1 steal, +10 in plus/minus
Alex Caruso: 7 points, 2 rebounds 1 steal
Spurs: Victor Wembanyama: 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks
Stephon Castle: 16 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Team stats
Thunder: 5 turnovers
Spurs: 13 turnovers
Thunder 23 rebounds
Spurs: 24 rebounds
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 6:46 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Jalen Williams was getting work done on his hamstring before halftime. He hasn’t played since the first quarter.
Still no word from the Thunder on his status.
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 6:44 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Thunder have ramped up the defense in Game 2 and take a 62-51 lead into halftime. Oklahoma City has forced 13 San Antonio turnovers and committed just 5, and it’s made the difference in the first half.
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 6:41 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Make that two fouls called on Victor Wembanyama that were overturned by a successful challenge.
Wembanyama’s third would-be foul on a clean block of Chet Holmgren was overturned late in the second quarter.
The challenges have kept Wembanyama out of unnecessary foul trouble and are certainly worth it. But the Spurs are out of challenges for the rest of the game.
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 6:37 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Thunder forward Jalen Williams hasn’t played since the first quarter and, according to reporters on the scene, is not on the Thunder bench. There’s no word or indication otherwise that Williams is injured.
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Thunder are doing what they arguably do best — forcing turnovers. And it’s making the early difference in the game.
OKC has an 11-5 edge in takeaways and a 56-47 advantage on the scoreboard with 2:56 remaining in the second quarter.
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 6:22 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Oh my. Stephon Castle has arrived.
The Spurs guard drove from beyond the arc, launched himself over Isaiah Hartenstein and threw down a hammer dunk over the Thunder big man for one of the nastiest dunks of this or any postseason.
Wed, May 20, 2026 at 6:09 PM PDT
Jason Owens
Game 2’s off to strong start.
The Spurs and Thunder will go into the second quarter locked in a 31-31 tie after a well-played quarter that featured 13 lead changes. The quarter ended with Cason Wallace taking a charge on an aggressive Victor Wembanyama drive to the basket as Chet Holmgren defended.
Wembanyma’s only bucket of the quarter from beyond the arc accounts for his 3 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 4 points and 3 assists.