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Wembanyama posted a monster game with 41 points, 24 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks while playing 49 minutes, the most of his basketball career. And he wasn\u2019t out of gas at the end.<\/p>\n
Wembanyama pulled up for a fearless deep 3 in the final minute of the first overtime to send the game to the second extra session after the Thunder had stolen momentum.<\/p>\n
He then dominated the second overtime to ensure San Antonio would not leave Game 1 without a win. He iced the win with a late and-1 dunk over his personal rival, Chet Holmgren.<\/p>\n
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That dunk countered Holmgren\u2019s late block in regulation of a would-be game-winner from Wembanyama that sent the game to overtime.<\/p>\n
Ultimately Holmgren\u2019s block just delayed the inevitable as Wembanyama ensured the Spurs would not leave Game 1 without a win.<\/p>\n
Play 2026 Soccer Pick ‘Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world’s biggest soccer tournament<\/a><\/p>\n He closed out the game with another dunk and a late block to put the finishing touches on the wild victory. On the heels of a season in which he broke out to match and perhaps even exceed the enormous expectations in the NBA, this was his best performance yet.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n And the Thunder\u2019s effort to secure a second straight NBA championship is officially on notice.<\/p>\n Wemby joins Hall of Fame list<\/p>\n Wembanyama\u2019s effort Monday night put him in elite company. Per Stathead<\/a>, his 40-20 effort is the seventh in NBA history in the conference finals or beyond, putting him alongside Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Charles Barkley, Moses Malone, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O\u2019Neal.<\/p>\n He\u2019s also the youngest player to post 40-20 in playoff history and the first Spur to do so since David Robinson. He did it all on a night when he watched commissioner Adam Silver hand the MVP trophy to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pregame.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n “I still got a lot to learn and I feel like I want to get that trophy many times in my career,” Wembanyama told reporters after the game.<\/p>\n \u2018He has a rare desire\u2019<\/p>\n Head coach Mitch Johnson, meanwhile, sang Wembanyama\u2019s praises.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has a rare desire to step into every moment that\u2019s in front of him,\u201d Johnson told reporters. \u201cI think he\u2019s showed in his three years in a lot of different situations and a lot of different circumstances that he is going to attack those moments.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Wembanyama\u2019s counting stats and late-game heroics don\u2019t tell the whole story. For most of the night, a normally potent Thunder offense had little answer for San Antonio\u2019s defense, which forced Oklahoma City into one of its worst offensive efforts of the season.<\/p>\n Wemby anchored smothering Spurs defense<\/p>\n The Spurs jumped out to an early 12-3 lead, not allowing a Thunder bucket until an Alex Caruso 3 with 8:46 remaining in the first quarter. Caruso and Jalen Williams were the only reliable sources of Oklahoma City offense early as the Spurs flustered Gilgeous-Alexander and erased Holmgren as an offensive threat.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Holmgren didn\u2019t attempt a field goal until a corner 3 in the final minute of the first half. He and Gilgeous-Alexander combined for nine first-half points on 1-of-6 shooting from the field.<\/p>\n Both picked up their efforts after halftime, and OKC rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime. But San Antonio\u2019s defense ultimately proved too much to overcome.<\/p>\n Victor Wembanyama posted a performance for the ages after watching Shai Gilgeous-Alexander accept the MVP trophy.<\/p>\n (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect \/ REUTERS)<\/p>\n Thunder players were repeatedly wary of Wembanyama\u2019s length when they got near the basket. And Oklahoma City\u2019s All-Stars largely had a night to forget. Gilgeous-Alexander double-doubled with 24 points and 12 assists. But he shot 7 of 23 from the field in an uncharacteristic inefficient night<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Holmgren shot just 2 of 7 from the field while largely matched up with Wembanyama and finished with 8 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.<\/p>\n Caruso (31 points, 8 of 14 from 3) and Williams (26 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) kept the Thunder afloat Monday night as Oklahoma City shot 40.6% from the field and turned the ball over 14 times.<\/p>\n The Thunder built their championship brand on defense and led the NBA in defensive rating during the regular season. But it\u2019s the Spurs who are leading that category in the playoffs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Wemby wasn\u2019t alone<\/p>\n![\"Victor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3ba80f59-16cd-4c0c-9182-9397dc16acbd.jpeg\"\/)
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![\"Ryan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779180311_742_dims.jpeg\"\/)
Tue 19 May 2026 at 1:46 pm AEST<\/p>\n![\"Jason](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779180311_904_dims.jpeg\"\/)
Tue 19 May 2026 at 12:25 pm AEST<\/p>\n