The Spurs defeat the Thunder, 103-82 in Game 4 of the WCF. The series is now tied, 2-2.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0Download the NBA App<\/a><\/p>\n SAN ANTONIO \u2013 San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell didn\u2019t waste time answering the question after the Spurs tied the Western Conference Finals<\/a> at 2-2 Sunday.<\/p>\n What have the Spurs learned about themselves in their first deep playoff run with this roster led by 7-foot-4 All-NBA forward-center Victor Wembanyama?<\/p>\n \u201cThat experience does not matter,\u201d Vassell said, repeating it for emphasis. \u201cExperience does not matter. We\u2019re here. We\u2019ve had all the experience we\u2019ve needed this regular season, and we\u2019re going to keep proving everybody wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n That belief will be tested in Game 6 as the Spurs face elimination against the Oklahoma City Thunder.<\/p>\n \u201cFind a way back here for Game 7,\u201d Spurs guard Stephon Castle said following the Thunder\u2019s 127-114 victory in Game 5 Tuesday. \u201cI feel like we\u2019ve been great when we\u2019re desperate all year. So I\u2019m excited to see how we\u2019ll respond.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are three things to watch in Game 6 Thursday in San Antonio (8:30 ET, NBC\/Peacock<\/a>):<\/p>\n 1. All eyes on Wembanyama<\/p>\n Spurs coach Mitch Johnson put it directly: \u201cHe\u2019s going to have to score more than 20 points for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Wembanyama posted a series-low 20 points and attempted just 15 shots, including just two attempts in the first quarter and six attempts in the first half.<\/p>\n For just the third time in 15 playoff games and for the first time in the conference finals, the Spurs were outscored in the minutes Wembanyama was on the court.<\/p>\n Wembanyama did not speak with reporters following the loss and was warned but not fined by the NBA for violating its media access policy.<\/p>\n \u201cThey send so many bodies towards him, it\u2019s hard at times,\u201d Castle said. \u201cHe just wants to make the right play and wants to win. So it\u2019s tough, he\u2019s our best player. We need him to be aggressive. I feel like him being aggressive opens up shots for other guys.\u201d<\/p>\n Wembanyama also had a series-low eight paint points as the Thunder kept him from dominating at the rim. Isaiah Hartenstein spent the most time defending Wembanyama, who was 1-for-9 from the field when Hartenstein guarded him, according to NBA tracking data.<\/p>\n In San Antonio\u2019s two victories, Wembanyama averaged 37 points, 16 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.0 blocks and 1.5 steals and shot 53.2% from the field, 44.4% on 3-pointers and 90.9% on free throws. In the Spurs\u2019 three losses: 22.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3.0 blocks and 1.3 steals and 43.5%\/29.4%\/91.7%.<\/p>\n Everyone knows which Wembanyama the Spurs need.<\/p>\n 2. It starts with Gilgeous-Alexander for the Thunder<\/p>\n You know the Spurs are making it difficult on two-time Kia MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander by examining two statistics: Gilgeous-Alexander\u2019s shooting percentage and turnovers.<\/p>\n During the regular season, he shot 55.3% from the field and committed just 2.2 turnovers per game. He became the first guard to average at least 30 points and shoot 55% or better from the field and became just the second player (Michael Jordan is the other) to score 30 or more per game and average less than 2.5 turnovers per game for three consecutive seasons.<\/p>\n This series against the ultra-aggressive, super-handsy Spurs defense? 38.3% shooting from the field and 3.4 turnovers per game for Gilgeous-Alexander.<\/p>\n Castle uses his size, strength and defensive skills and knowledge against Gilgeous-Alexander. In Game 5, Castle defended him the most and forced Gilgeous into three of his six turnovers. Oklahoma City\u2019s depth helped overcome his early problems.<\/p>\n But three of Castle\u2019s five fouls came while guarding Gilgeous-Alexander who scored 16 of his game-high 32 points at the free throw line.<\/p>\n He worked through struggles to have a productive game.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the things about him is he\u2019s so consistent,\u201d Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. \u201cHis temperament\u2019s the same all the time. His approach is the same all the time. His floor game is the same all the time. He obviously was sloppy early, but I didn\u2019t think it was approach-based. That\u2019s one of the things that really is a superpower of his. And I think it gives the team tremendous confidence as we\u2019ve navigated these situations throughout the year and throughout years.\u201d<\/p>\n 3. Thunder leaning into collective playoff experience<\/p>\n If the Spurs are running with \u201cexperience does not matter,\u201d the Thunder want to lean into their collective experience in these situations \u2013 the wins and the losses.<\/p>\n Oklahoma City lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 conference semifinals in six games and won two Games 7s last season, beating the Denver Nuggets in the conference semifinals and the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals.<\/p>\n \u201cThe thing that you take from those experiences is the mental part of it \u2013 not getting too high, not getting too low and just going in there knowing you have to come with a certain sense of urgency,\u201d Hartenstein said. \u201cI think our group does a great job of just not being too emotional with it. I think when you go into any playoff game and your emotions are too high or too low, that\u2019s kind of when it doesn\u2019t work for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n In the 2024, 2025 and 2026 playoffs, the Thunder played in nine games where they could close out the series and have won seven and have never lost a series when they were the first team to three victories in that span.<\/p>\n Said Daigneault: \u201cIt\u2019s a huge factor for us, the continuity we have. This core has been together a long time, and they\u2019ve also done an unbelievable job of bringing the guys that we\u2019ve layered into the club very quickly. \u2026 but we\u2019ve been doing this all year in terms of just problem-solving as a team and competing together, not making excuses, seeing adversity as a challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at\u00a0jzillgitt@nba.com<\/a>, find\u00a0his archive here<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0follow him on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Spurs defeat the Thunder, 103-82 in Game 4 of the WCF. 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