{"id":456494,"date":"2026-05-23T17:51:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T17:51:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/456494\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T17:51:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T17:51:22","slug":"starting-5-shai-okc-bench-overpower-spurs-for-2-1-lead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/456494\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting 5: Shai, OKC bench overpower Spurs for 2-1 lead"},"content":{"rendered":"

J-Will wows with the 4-point play.<\/p>\n

J-Dub loves the dagger, and a 2-1 Thunder lead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

5 STORIES IN TODAY\u2019S EDITION \ud83c\udfc0<\/p>\n

May 23, 2026<\/p>\n

Storm Then Thunder: Shai and OKC outlast Spurs\u2019 hot start to take 2-1 series lead<\/p>\n

Bench Boom: 76 points from Thunder reserves overpower San Antonio in Game 3<\/p>\n

Numbers For Nine: Inside the Playoff-leading offensive & defensive stats fueling NY\u2019s win streak<\/p>\n

Spida\u2019s Dream: Down 0-2 again, Shaun Powell writes that Mitchell must lead Cavs back to the arena he idolized: MSG<\/p>\n

All-Defense: Unanimous First Team pick Wemby leads 2025-26 Kia All-Defensive Teams<\/p>\n

BUT FIRST \u2026 \u23f0<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s Playoff stop in The Land\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Scores<\/p>\n

The Eastern Conference Finals shift to Cleveland, with the Knicks up 2-0 and the Cavs facing a familiar challenge in Game 3 (8 ET, ABC | Tap To Watch<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\"Bam<\/p>\n

Heat center Bam Adebayo was named the 2025-26 NBA Social Justice Champion<\/a> on Friday, receiving the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy for his work empowering equality for under-resourced communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just means all the people that I\u2019ve helped got a voice.\u201d Adebayo told the NBA Showtime crew<\/a> upon winning.<\/p>\n

Read on to Section 5 \u2b07\ufe0f for the All-Defensive First & Second Team selections also announced Friday.<\/p>\n

Up Next: 2025-26 All-NBA Teams will be unveiled Sunday (7 ET, NBC\/Peacock) prior to Thunder-Spurs, Game 4. The 2025-26 Kia NBA Coach of the Year will be announced Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\"Playoff<\/p>\n

1. SHAI, THUNDER WEATHER SPURS\u2019 EARLY STORM FOR 2-1 LEAD<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Less than 3 minutes into the game, it was 15-0 San Antonio.<\/p>\n

But less than 3 minutes into the 4th quarter, and again at the final horn, it was OKC with a 15-point edge \u2013\u00a0and control of the West Finals.<\/p>\n

Thunder 123, Spurs 108: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up 26 points while matching his Playoff career-high with 12 assists, and Jared McCain\u2019s 24 points led a 76-point bench onslaught, as the Thunder took a 2-1 series lead.<\/p>\n

Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs, matching Shai\u2019s 26, with all five starters in double figures for 85 combined points. Devin Vassell reached 20 points for a second straight game, while De\u2019Aaron Fox (7 reb, 6 ast) had 15 points in his series debut. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Settling In: After San Antonio\u2019s 15-0 opening blitz<\/a>, Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso got OKC on the board. 5 minutes in, up 19-4, Wemby went to the bench
\nWhat happened next would be a running theme: Cason Wallace, Caruso and Jaylin Williams (2x) hit triples in a 15-5 OKC burst during Wemby\u2019s 3:17 of rest
\nScore Reset: OKC finished the 1st down only 5, which it quickly overcame with three straight 3s to open the 2nd. The quarter played out with all nine of the game\u2019s lead changes, before another Wemby break
\nAnother Run: Down 45-43 with 5:22 before half, OKC launched a 9-0 run, forcing Wemby right back in at 3:11. The Thunder carried that 7-point lead to halftime, on the strength of four Jaylin Williams triples and nine 2nd-quarter points from SGA
\n\u201cWe just wanted to compete. Down 15-0, nothing\u2019s gonna happen in the snap of the fingers to get back into the game,\u201d Shai said\u2026 \u201cThey really challenge you, and we like to think of ourselves as one of those teams that really challenges you too.\u201d
\n\u201cIt takes maturity,\u201d Jared McCain said of the champs\u2019 poise<\/a>. \u201cNot getting too high or too low. [San Antonio\u2019s] gonna go on runs, but being able to throw a punch back is huge for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a lot of confident players,\u201d coach Mark Daigneault said. \u201cWhen you have a team as connected as this team is, then that confidence becomes contagious.<\/p>\n

When there\u2019s tough portions of the game\u2026 I think that has power, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

After halftime, SGA (17 pts second-half pts) and McCain (16) combined for 33 and OKC never gave the lead back. Shai outdueled Wemby 12-9 in the 3rd to keep OKC ahead by at least two possessions.<\/p>\n

Four-Point Dagger: Midway through the 4th, Williams drilled his fifth 3 through contact, adding a free throw to put the Thunder up 111-96. They lead by double digits for the final 6:39
\nNight & Day: After San Antonio\u2019s 15-0 start, OKC outscored their hosts 123-93 to win by 15. The Thunder were +19 when Wemby was off the floor
\nRange & Rebounds: OKC held the Spurs to 42.5% shooting and just 37 total boards, their lowest marks of these Playoffs<\/p>\n

The defending champs have now started the Playoffs 10-1, becoming the first team since the 2020 Heat to start a Playoff run 10-1 or better.<\/p>\n

San Antonio will try to get the series back to even Sunday night in Game 4 (8 ET, NBC\/Peacock).<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course there were gonna be hard trials. It\u2019s to be expected. But now we\u2019re gonna see what we\u2019re made of,\u201d Wembanyama said.<\/p>\n

2. OKC\u2019S SCORING DEPTH SURGES IN SAN ANTONIO
\n\"OKC<\/p>\n

Jesse D. Garrabrant\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Seventy-six points.<\/p>\n

Of 123.<\/p>\n

Put in context, the Thunder bench\u2019s 76 points on Friday came within a possession of two teams\u2019 scores across an entire game this postseason.<\/p>\n

OKC\u2019s 76-point bench boom is the highest bench production<\/a> in any Conference Finals game since the Conference Finals\u2019 first year, in 1970-71
\nFour OKC bench players finished in double figures<\/a>, with Playoff career-highs from Jared McCain (24 pts) and Jaylin Williams (18 pts) leading Alex Caruso (15) and Cason Wallace (11)
\nNot Just Offense: The Thunder also put the clamps on the Spurs\u2019 reserves, with OKC winning the bench battle by 53 points, 76-23<\/p>\n

\u201cWe talk about our team identity being a \u2018compete-together\u2019 team,\u201d coach Daigneault said. \u201cEven if you don\u2019t know anything about basketball\u2026 we want you to say: \u2018This team competes together.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

OKC\u2019s only new face since last year\u2019s title run, McCain\u2019s 24-spot puts him with James Harden as the only Thunder players<\/a> to drop 20+ points off the bench in a Playoff game before turning 23 years old
\n\u201cHe just oozes confidence,\u201d Shai said of McCain. \u201cWhether the ball goes in or out, he makes the next play \u2013 he makes the best play, for himself and for the guys out there\u2026 We needed it tonight.\u201d
\n\u201cMy family, they gave me that confidence,\u201d McCain said. \u201cI feel like I\u2019ve played in big games\u2026 not the Western Conference Finals, but being able to just take that confidence and be fearless\u2026 I love what my life is right now.\u201d
\nJ-Will Thrills: Williams had already set a new Playoff career-high by halftime, leading the Thunder back into the game with 14 points before the break
\nAC\u2019s 60-Plus: Caruso has followed up his Game 1 Playoff career-high (31 pts) with back-to-back 15+ point games, making him OKC\u2019s second leading scorer (63 total pts) in the series<\/p>\n

\u201cCaruso, J-Will, they came in and made a splash right away, and really saved our group,\u201d said SGA. \u201cThey were special tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jaylin<\/p>\n

Alex Slitz\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

OKC has totaled 183 bench points through the first three games of this series, the most in the first three games of a Conference Finals in NBA history.<\/p>\n

Give & Take: In addition to boasting the overall leading scorer of these Playoffs in Shai (28.5 ppg), the Thunder also have eight players averaging 8+ points, and seven players averaging at least one steal
\nThe Result: That gives OKC the Playoffs\u2019 highest-scoring offense (120.9 ppg) alongside the 2nd-highest average of steals per game (10.6)
\nThe Potential: It\u2019s a pace that would make the Thunder the first team to average 120+ ppg and 10+ spg in any Playoff run since steals were first tracked in 1973-74<\/p>\n

3. THE NUMBERS FUELING NEW YORK\u2019S RECORD 9-WIN PLAYOFF STREAK
\n\"Karl-Anthony<\/p>\n

Brian Babineau\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Nine in a row.<\/p>\n

Two hundred twenty Playoff wins into their storied history, the Knicks have strung together nine straight in the same year for the first time.<\/p>\n

Tonight in Game 3 (8 ET, ABC), they\u2019ll aim to extend the franchise record to 10 in a row.<\/p>\n

These Knicks haven\u2019t lost since April 23. And they haven\u2019t just won, they\u2019ve dominated.<\/p>\n

Up 200: New York hasn\u2019t scored less than 108 points in any game during the streak, outscoring opponents by a combined 212 points
\nThat\u2019s the highest point differential over a nine-game span in NBA history, regular season included
\nEight of the nine wins have come by double-digits, four of which were 25+ point blowouts. The third win of the streak was the Knicks\u2019 Playoff record 51-point takedown of the Hawks
\nStingy NY: New York has held its opponents under 100 points in six of the nine wins. Philly\u2019s 114-point Game 4 of the East Semis was the only instance of the other side scoring over 104<\/p>\n

\"Josh<\/p>\n

Take a closer look into the offensive and defensive numbers that have made New York\u2019s improbable nine-game run possible.<\/p>\n

Splashing & Stopping: The Knicks have been dominant on both ends of the floor, ranking 1st in scoring (122.3 ppg & 53.6 FG%) while holding opponents to just 98.9 ppg and 29.3 3P% (both 1st) during the streak
\nOffensive Package: In addition to the shooting and scoring highs, New York ranks 1st in offensive rating (124.5), 3P% (41.0%), paint points (55.6 ppg), assists (27.9 apg) and assist points created (67.0 ppg) during the nine wins
\nAnd it\u2019s not just Jalen Brunson\u2019s iso game or Karl-Anthony Towns in the post. The Knicks rank 3rd in cutting\/alley-oop attempts (4.9\/g), converting those at a dominant rate of 81.8 FG%<\/p>\n

\u201c[Offensively] it\u2019s an advantage for us, learning how to play differently,\u201d Brunson said of New York\u2019s scoring styles. \u201cWe\u2019ve just got to continue to be open to figure out how we can win the next game.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Defensive Foundation: The offense has soared on the strength of the defense behind it, with New York flexing the top defensive rating (100.6) during their run
\n\u201c[It\u2019s] our defense that has always been special in these Playoffs, and is what carried us in these Playoffs,\u201d Karl-Anthony Towns said after Game 2
\nDoubles, Traps: The Knicks lead all defenses in double teams per game (13.9) and rank 2nd (125) behind the Spurs (134) in total double teams during their win streak
\nKnicks teammates account for three of the top-5 most frequent double team defender combinations during the streak, with KAT participating in 29 of the traps to lead all Playoff defenders<\/p>\n

Heading to Cleveland, they\u2019ll now try to go up 3-0 against a Cavs team that\u2019s excelled<\/a> with its back to the wall, Jamal Collier of ESPN writes.<\/p>\n

4. CLIMB TIME AGAIN FOR SPIDA\u2019S CAVS, DOWN 0-2 AT HOME
\n\"Donovan<\/p>\n

Brian Babineau\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Down 0-2 in the Playoffs and fighting to get back to the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\n

Tonight in Game 3,\u00a0the Cavaliers will look to Donovan Mitchell\u2019s leadership to flip a second straight series this postseason.<\/p>\n

And as NBA.com\u2019s Shaun Powell writes, if he can pull it off, it would be a partial dream come true for Spida:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt must be stressed that the Cavs were wobbly twice before in this postseason, when they were forced into a Game 7 against Toronto in the first round, then fell behind 2-0 to the top-seeded Pistons in the semis and needed another Game 7 win.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s 2-0. They did their job,\u2019 Mitchell said, this time of the Knicks. \u2018They protected home court. That simple. This isn\u2019t our first time facing adversity \u2026 we\u2019re ready to go for Game 3.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m happy because we didn\u2019t let the Game 1 (collapse) affect our mental.\u2019<\/p>\n

Truth be told, Mitchell is now dreaming like the kid from the New York suburbs all over again, the kid whose mom drove him to Harlem on weekends to seek the top competition in AAU, a strategy that paid off.\u201d<\/p>\n

That teenaged Donovan Mitchell wanted to one day play in the Garden, home of the Knicks.<\/p>\n

This adult Donovan Mitchell wants that, too \u2014 for this series to return to the Garden for a Game 5.\u201d | Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

5. WEMBY, CHET LEAD ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM SELECTIONS<\/p>\n

\"Rudy<\/p>\n

Bigs put their best feet forward defensively this season across the NBA, and were well-represented in Friday\u2019s unveiling<\/a>of the 2025-26 Kia All-Defensive Teams.<\/p>\n

Three 7-footers landed on the All-Defensive First Team, where Kia Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama was the sole unanimous selection. Fellow rim protectors in the Thunder\u2019s Chet Holmgren and Wolves\u2019 Rudy Gobert joined him.<\/p>\n

Filling out the first five were the Pistons\u2019 Ausar Thompson and Celtics\u2019 Derrick White. Here\u2019s how they stood out defensively this season.<\/p>\n

Victor Wembanyama, Spurs: Returning to the First Team after being included in his rookie season of 2023-24, Wembanyama led the NBA in blocked shots (197, 3.1 bpg) for a third consecutive season and took home his first Hakeem Olajuwon DPOY Trophy.<\/p>\n

Chet Holmgren, Thunder: A finalist for DPOY, Holmgren anchored the league\u2019s top defense (106.5 DefRtg) to earn his first All-Defensive First Team selection. Holmgren led the league this season with the lowest defended field goal percentage (48.9) within 6 feet of the basket, among players facing at least 200 shots there.<\/p>\n

Ausar Thompson, Pistons: Also among the DPOY finalists, Thompson earned his first All-Defensive First Team selection as one of just three players to swipe over 140 steals this season (146). That\u2019s the most steals in a season by a Piston since Ben Wallace in 2005-06.<\/p>\n

Rudy Gobert, Wolves: A defining member of the All-Defensive Team over the past decade, Gobert has been named to the First Team in eight of the last 10 years. Gobert\u2019s 124 blocks were 5th-best in the league this season, in his tenth season with over 120 swats.<\/p>\n

Derrick White, Celtics: Making the First Team for the first time, following Second Team selections in 2023 and 2024, White was one of two players in 2025-26 with 80+ steals and 80+ blocks. The other, Scottie Barnes, led the Second Team in voting points.<\/p>\n

\"All-Defensive<\/p>\n

The All-Defensive Second Team includes Toronto\u2019s Barnes, OKC\u2019s Cason Wallace, Miami\u2019s Bam Adebayo, New York\u2019s OG Anunoby, and Atlanta\u2019s Dyson Daniels.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next: 2025-26 All-NBA Teams will be unveiled Sunday (7 ET, NBC\/Peacock) prior to Thunder-Spurs, Game 4. The 2025-26 Kia NBA Coach of the Year will be announced Tuesday.<\/p>\n