{"id":305559,"date":"2026-05-23T04:29:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T04:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/305559\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T04:29:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T04:29:11","slug":"spurs-vs-thunder-score-okc-bench-pushes-defending-champs-to-2-1-lead-after-early-spurs-surge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/305559\/","title":{"rendered":"Spurs vs. Thunder score: OKC bench pushes defending champs to 2-1 lead after early Spurs surge"},"content":{"rendered":"

Game 3 of the Western Conference finals began as an outright disaster for the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a>, who were down 15-0 to the San Antonio Spurs<\/a> after three minutes and 19-4 after five minutes in front of a raucous Frost Bank Center crowd.<\/p>\n

Then came the cavalry in the form of Alex Caruso<\/a>, Jaylin Williams<\/a>, Jared McCain<\/a> and Cason Wallace<\/a>, who subbed in and flipped the game into a 123-108 Thunder win. OKC now leads 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to think of a game where the difference in benches made a larger difference than Game 3. In theory, San Antonio<\/a> should have been able to approach the Thunder in depth with NBA Sixth Man of the Year Keldon Johnson and rookie phenom Dylan Harper<\/a> leading the second unit this time.<\/p>\n

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And yet, here\u2019s how the scoring worked out:<\/p>\n

Thunder starters: 47 points<\/p>\n

Thunder bench: 76 points (!)<\/p>\n

Spurs starters: 85 points<\/p>\n

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> naturally led the Thunder with 26 points on 6-of-16 shooting and 12 assists, but the bench players were the other difference-makers for a team that was missing star Jalen Williams<\/a>. Having the MVP is nice for OKC, but what has really set it apart from the competition all season has been its unbelievable depth, with a litany of lineup options that can hurt you.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t an Ajay Mitchell<\/a> game, or a Lu Dort<\/a> game, or an Isaiah Joe<\/a> game. But it didn\u2019t matter. OKC found the right combination quickly, and held the clear advantage for the rest of the game.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s the kind of stuff that comes with culture and confidence, and plays like Jared McCain beating Victor Wembanyama<\/a> 1-on-1 in the paint are a direct byproduct.<\/p>\n

The Spurs ultimately looked gassed after their early burst, and Wembanyama could only do so much. He played 86 combined minutes in Games 1 and 2, the most of any two-game stretch of his career, and played another 39 on Friday.<\/p>\n

He powered San Antonio to a four-point advantage when he was on the court, but the Thunder outscored the Spurs by 19 in the nine other minutes. The Defensive Player of the Year finished with 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks.<\/p>\n

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Per ESPN<\/a>, they are the second team this century to start a playoff game on a 15-0 run or better then lose. They join the 2016-17 Washington Wizards<\/a>, who were up 16-0 against the Boston Celtics<\/a> before disaster struck.<\/p>\n

De\u2019Aaron Fox<\/a> leaves game with apparent ankle injury<\/p>\n

The news gets worse for San Antonio, as De\u2019Aaron Fox also left the game later in the third quarter with an apparent right ankle injury, the same ankle that caused him to miss Games 1 and 2 and had him a game-time decision for Friday.<\/p>\n

Fox was in clear pain as he limped off the court, but stayed on the bench with a towel over his head. The Spurs can only hope his ankle injury didn\u2019t become something more serious.<\/p>\n

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Spurs crowd makes it thoughts on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander clear<\/p>\n

We have reached the point in the Gilgeous-Alexander flopping discourse that Yahoo Sports\u2019 Tom Haberstroh decided to sit down and count how many times the NBA MVP has fallen on shots this postseason<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We don\u2019t have the Game 3 count for now, but the Thunder star finished a perfect 12-for-12 from the charity stripe. He was also welcomed with a loud \u201cFlopper\u201d chant from the road crowd.<\/p>\n

Devin Vassell<\/a> gets into it with Ajay Mitchell<\/p>\n

Given the teams involved, this series was always going to be physical. The temperature reached a boil in the third quarter, when Ajay Mitchell made hard contact with Stephon Castle<\/a> on a breakaway. Devin Vassell, the Spurs\u2019 best non-Wembanyama player on Friday, responded by giving Mitchell a shove and triggering a scrum.<\/p>\n

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After review, the play was called as a flagrant 1 on Mitchell and a double technical foul on Mitchell and Vassell.<\/p>\n

For all the discourse surrounding the Thunder, the two teams actually finished dead-even with 33 free throw attempts each. Castle got even more attempts than Gilgeous-Alexander with 14.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how Game 3 of the Western Conference finals went down at Yahoo Sports.<\/p>\n

Live67 updatesFri, May 22, 2026 at 5:48 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Jack Baer<\/p>\n

\"IanFri, May 22, 2026 at 8:30 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n

Difference in the game? The Thunder got 76 points from the bench, led by Jared McCain\u2019s 24 points. The Spurs\u2019 reserves scored 23 with Dylan Harper getting six points.<\/p>\n

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 26 points and 12 assists for OKC, while Victor Wembanyama also scored 26 for San Antonio.<\/p>\n

Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday night with tip-off at 8 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n

\"IanFri, May 22, 2026 at 8:26 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n

Spurs fans began leaving after Jared McCain drew a foul with 1:51 remaining. He hit both free throws to give the Thunder a 118-103 lead.<\/p>\n

Kenrich Williams adds five points for OKC before Kelly Olynyk hits a 3 on the final play of the game.<\/p>\n

The Thunder win Game 3, 123-108, and take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference finals.<\/p>\n

\"IanFri, May 22, 2026 at 8:22 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n

Just as the Spurs once again cut the Thunder lead to 10 points, Cason Wallace drills a 3-pointer to put OKC up 116-103 with 2:28 remaining in the fourth.<\/p>\n

\"IanFri, May 22, 2026 at 8:20 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n

Following two free throws by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama drives for a layup. Both players have 26 points with the Thunder up 113-103.<\/p>\n

\"IanFri, May 22, 2026 at 8:18 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n

Victor Wembanyama finishes a 3-point play under the basket, drawing a foul by Jaylin Williams.<\/p>\n

Following a missed 3 by Cason Wallace, Julian Champagnie grabbed the rebound and drove for a layup to cut the Thunder\u2019s lead to 111-101. The game is approaching the 3-minute mark of the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

\"IanFri, May 22, 2026 at 8:11 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n

Jaylin Williams silences the Frost Bank Center crowd by drilling a 3-pointer and drawing a foul on Luke Kornet.<\/p>\n

Williams adds the free throw to put the Thunder ahead 111-96.<\/p>\n

\"IanFri, May 22, 2026 at 8:06 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n

San Antonio gets two offensive rebounds on a missed Victor Wembanyama 3-pointer. Luke Kornet doesn\u2019t get the tip-in, but Devin Vassell does and the Spurs are now within nine points with 6:56 remaining in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

\"IanFri, May 22, 2026 at 8:04 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n

A Victor Wembanyama pull-up jumper on a fast break cuts the Spurs\u2019 deficit to 102-92.<\/p>\n

Julian Champagnie fired up the crowd by blocking a Chet Holmgren 3-point try as the clock ticks under the 8-minute mark in the fourth quarter\/<\/p>\n

\"IanFri, May 22, 2026 at 8:01 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n

De\u2019Aaron Fox appears to be fine after reinjuring his right ankle. He quickly hits a 12-footer, then assists on a Julian Champagnie 3-pointer that pulls the Spurs to within 12 points.<\/p>\n

\"IanFri, May 22, 2026 at 7:58 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n

Jared McCain quickly rendered Isaiah Hartenstein\u2019s protests unimportant by hitting a 3 on OKC\u2019s next trip down the floor.<\/p>\n

That puts the Thunder up 100-85 at the 10:30 mark of the fourth quarter. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson calls timeout.<\/p>\n

\"IanFri, May 22, 2026 at 7:55 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n

Isaiah Hartenstein is complaining that his turnover should have been called a kicked ball.<\/p>\n

Instead, Devin Vassell got a steal leading to Stephen Castle drawing a foul and hitting one of two free throws.<\/p>\n

\"JackFri, May 22, 2026 at 7:50 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Jack Baer<\/p>\n

A long third quarter ends with OKC up by double digits and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at 21 points and 10 rebounds.<\/p>\n

The Thunder bench is outscoring the Spurs bench 55-16. Victor Wembanyama has also looked perhaps a little tired after playing a combined 86 points in Games 1 and 2, with 19 points in 29 minutes tonight.<\/p>\n

\"JackFri, May 22, 2026 at 7:46 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Jack Baer<\/p>\n

The play that injured Fox. That\u2019s the same ankle that caused him to miss Games 1 and 2.<\/p>\n

\"JackFri, May 22, 2026 at 7:45 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Jack Baer<\/p>\n

Uh oh, De\u2019Aaron Fox limps off the court, but not to the locker room yet, with an apparent ankle injury. He is clearly in pain as he sits on the bench with a towel on his head.<\/p>\n

\"JackFri, May 22, 2026 at 7:43 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Jack Baer<\/p>\n

\"JackFri, May 22, 2026 at 7:41 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Jack Baer<\/p>\n

Another Alex Caruso 3-pointer, this time with some nice footwork. Only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Devin Vassell have scored more points than his 15 tonight.<\/p>\n

\"JackFri, May 22, 2026 at 7:38 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Jack Baer<\/p>\n

This third quarter is dragging, for very clear reasons. The Spurs have received 17 free throw attempts, which is only two fewer than the Thunder have received all game.<\/p>\n

\"JackFri, May 22, 2026 at 7:36 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Jack Baer<\/p>\n

\"JackFri, May 22, 2026 at 7:28 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Jack Baer<\/p>\n

Just as we all expected, Jared McCain challenging Victor Wembanyama 1-on-1 in the paint and getting two points.<\/p>\n

\"JackFri, May 22, 2026 at 7:25 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Jack Baer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Game 3 of the Western Conference finals began as an outright disaster for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":305560,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[64115,11241,6384,53250,16024,32000,64116,2715,11236,10135,78719,108418,3080,6382,82,84,83,1066,41611,1504,4847,509,6404],"class_list":["post-305559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-antonio","tag-ajay-mitchell","tag-alex-caruso","tag-boston-celtics","tag-cason-wallace","tag-deaaron-fox","tag-devin-vassell","tag-dort","tag-dylan-harper","tag-isaiah-joe","tag-jalen-williams","tag-jared-mccain","tag-jaylin-williams","tag-nba","tag-oklahoma-city-thunder","tag-san-antonio","tag-san-antonio-headlines","tag-san-antonio-news","tag-san-antonio-spurs","tag-shai-gilgeous-alexander","tag-stephon-castle","tag-the-spurs","tag-victor-wembanyama","tag-washington-wizards"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=305559"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305559\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/305560"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=305559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=305559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=305559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}