The stars show out in OKC as the Spurs hold on to win Game 1 in a thriller.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0Download the NBA App<\/a><\/p>\n OKLAHOMA CITY \u2014 The Oklahoma City Thunder have a big problem to solve in the Western Conference Finals<\/a>.<\/p>\n The problem is Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs\u2019 7-foot-4 star, who delivered a historic performance in his first conference finals game.<\/p>\n The Thunder knew that coming into the series, and that point was underscored multiple times in the Spurs\u2019 122-115 double-overtime victory<\/a> against the Thunder in Game 1 on Monday.<\/p>\n Wembanyama and the Spurs \u2013 most of them appearing in their first conference finals \u2013 were unfazed by the magnitude of playing the defending champions on the road with a spot in the NBA Finals<\/a> at stake.<\/p>\n Wembanyama was sensational, rookie Dylan Harper soared in an unexpected start and the Spurs persevered through the highs and lows of high-pressure playoff hoops for a stunning 1-0 series lead in an instant classic.<\/p>\n \u201cIt got to the point probably sometime at the end of that fourth quarter, it just felt like there was a war of wills, a level of mental toughness by both teams,\u201d said Spurs coach Mitch Johnson.<\/p>\n His Thunder counterpart, Mark Daigneault, said: \u201cOne of the things I love about this team is our problem solving \u2026 We\u2019ve got to solve a few problems and be better in Game 2.\u201d<\/p>\n It was an intense welcome to the conference finals. Has your heart rate returned to normal? Can it take potentially six more of these games?<\/p>\n Game 2 is Wednesday in Oklahoma City (8:30 ET, NBC\/Peacock<\/a>).<\/p>\n Here are takeaways from the series opener:<\/p>\n 1. Wembanyama\u2019s monumental impact<\/p>\n Victor Wembanyama joins Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to record 40+ points and 20+ rebounds in their conference finals debut.<\/p>\n Playing a career-high 48 minutes, 42 seconds, Wembanyama had 41 points, 24 rebounds and three blocks and became the first player to have 30 or more points and 20 or more rebounds in his conference finals debut since Wilt Chamberlain went for 42 and 29 in 1960.<\/p>\n He is also the second player 22 years old or younger since the NBA-ABA merger five decades ago to collect at least 30 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game. Nine of his rebounds were offensive, helping the Spurs to 13 second-chance points.<\/p>\n \u201cThat young man, he has a rare desire to step into every moment that\u2019s in front of him, and he has showed in his three years in a lot of different situations with a lot of different circumstances that he\u2019s going to attack those moments,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cDoesn\u2019t mean they\u2019ll always work out for him or be exactly the outcome that he wants, but he has some rare God-given ability.\u201d<\/p>\n R U KIDDING ME?!<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa@NBAonNBC<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/G29cWHfBfw<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Wembanyama was a force, making a 28-foot 3-pointer<\/a> with 27 seconds left in the first overtime to tie the score at 108-108, end Thunder momentum and force the second OT. He scored the first four points of the second overtime for a 112-108 Spurs lead, and his two-handed dunk<\/a> with 1:01 left in the second overtime gave the Spurs a 118-114 advantage.<\/p>\n The Thunder wanted to play physical with Wembanyama, and the Thunder\u2019s Alex Caruso spent considerable time defending Wembanyama, who made 12 of his 13 free throw attempts. Wembanyama absorbed the physicality and had moments of bully-ball, overpowering the Thunder with his size, strength and finesse at the rim.<\/p>\n Wembanyama took note of the MVP ceremony<\/a> for Gilgeous-Alexander before the game. \u201cIt feels like I still have a lot to learn,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I want to get that trophy many times in my career.\u201d<\/p>\n 2. Gilgeous-Alexander struggles early, shines late<\/p>\n The Spurs made sure multiple players focused on Gilgeous-Alexander \u2013 sometimes three defenders in an attempt to limit his driving, shooting and passing. The Spurs opened the series unwilling to let Gilgeous-Alexander beat them.<\/p>\n In the first half, Gilgeous-Alexander was 1-for-5 from the field, had five assists and two turnovers and was a minus-15. He discovered his offense as the game progressed and scored 18 of his 24 points in the second half and overtimes. He finished with 12 assists, finding a way to help the Thunder score without making shots.<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew it was going to be a dogfight,\u201d Gilgeous-Alexander said. \u201cWe\u2019ve just got to be better. Me in particular, (I have) to play better especially against a team of this caliber. Nothing more than that.\u201d<\/p>\n 3. Caruso almost delivers a victory for Thunder<\/p>\n Alex Caruso delivers 31 points and stellar defense throughout Game 1.<\/p>\n If guarding Wembanyama wasn\u2019t difficult enough for Caruso, the Thunder needed his offense, too. Caruso scored a career-high and team-high 31 points on 11-for-19 shooting, including 8-for-14 on 3-pointers.<\/p>\n The Spurs decided to put Wembanyama on Caruso for key moments while giving Wembanyama room to play free safety. It gave Caruso open looks, and he took advantage.<\/p>\n \u201cThe further you get in the playoffs, the better the teams are and that usually means you\u2019re doing two things,\u201d Caruso said. \u201cYou\u2019re physically putting in a lot of effort and then there\u2019s a mental aspect. That\u2019s part of the game. That\u2019s what makes the playoffs so great. The details of winning are really important.\u201d<\/p>\n 4. Harper stars in place of injured Fox for Spurs<\/p>\n Dylan Harper records 24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and seven steals in a crucial spot start.<\/p>\n Just before tip-off, the Spurs announced De\u2019Aaron Fox was out<\/a> for Game 1 with right ankle soreness, and Harper got the start.<\/p>\n According to San Antonio\u2019s public relations staff, the Spurs put out the youngest starting lineup<\/a> in conference finals history with Harper (20), Stephon Castle (21), Devin Vassell (25), Julian Champagnie (24) and Wembanyama (22) \u2013 average age 22 years, 346 days.<\/p>\n Moving Harper into the starting lineup made the Spurs less deep. However, his effort helped produce a victory.<\/p>\n He had 24 points, 11 rebounds, seven steals, six assists and just one turnover and is just the second rookie with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals in a playoff game since steals were first recorded in 1973-74, joining Magic Johnson (1980).<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like not a lot of people get this experience just to be a part of such a great organization, a great group of guys,\u201d Harper said. \u201cI feel like the locker room is great. I wouldn\u2019t want to be anywhere else. This is kind of where I\u2019m supposed to be and just keep on just taking step after step.\u201d<\/p>\n 5. Thunder need more from their bigs<\/p>\n Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein were terrific against the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference semifinals<\/a>. In Game 1 against San Antonio, they combined for 10 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks and will need to be much better offensively and on the glass.<\/p>\n Holmgren didn\u2019t attempt a shot in the first quarter and didn\u2019t make his first shot until a 3-pointer with 42.4 seconds left in the second quarter.<\/p>\n Holmgren had eight points and eight rebounds in 41 minutes, and Hartenstein had just two points and two rebounds in 12 minutes as Daigneault sought the right combinations to counter the Spurs.<\/p>\n Oklahoma City\u2019s Jalen Williams returned to the lineup<\/a> after missing the previous six games with a strained left hamstring and was productive with 26 points and seven rebounds.<\/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