Defending champion OKC dominated Wenbanyama, winning 122-113, with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 30 points and dishing out nine assists.
Published May 21, 2026
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tied the Oklahoma City Thunder with the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals as the defending NBA champions won the second heavyweight showdown 122-113.
Although he was largely subdued in the Game 1 loss to the Spurs, the back-to-back league Most Valuable Player had 30 points and nine assists to help tie the series on Wednesday.
The Thunder’s home win moves the series to 1-1, with both teams next heading to Games 3 and 4 in San Antonio on Friday and Saturday.
“The players came tonight knowing what would happen if we lost this,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
“I brought the energy from the jump.”
Two nights after a double-overtime game tied the two teams, the two teams with the best NBA regular season records once again put on a strong performance.
After ending the first quarter tied, the Thunder jumped out to an 11-point lead at halftime.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who had a slow start in the previous game, led the attack from the tip-off and regularly scored from mid-range.
His team struggled for 13 turnovers, equivalent to 16 points, in the first half alone.
Victor Wembaneyama of the Spurs had 41 points and 24 rebounds in Game 1, but he frequently struggled with Isaiah Hartenstein and was suffocated by the aggressive Thunder defense as he was double-teamed.
But teammate Stephon Castle reacted in style with a sensational dunk over the head of the 7-foot Hartenstein, leaving the crowd and players gasping.
The Spurs were without starting guard De’Aaron Fox for the second straight game due to a right ankle sprain, but they came back midway through the third inning to tie the game.
However, Oklahoma City withstood the pressure and San Antonio was unable to regain the lead.
“The players were ready to play,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after the game. “(We) weren’t disappointed by their goal.”
“Obviously they’re a good team. They’re going to score.”
On a night of intense, physical play, Oklahoma City’s Jaylen Williams and San Antonio’s Dylan Harper both left the court with injuries and did not return.
In the final quarter, the Thunder again extended their advantage.
Gilgeous-Alexander sank another step-back jump shot, and Alex Caruso’s layup with 20 seconds left extended the lead to nine points.
“We got the W (win). That’s all you can ask for. Now we have to go on the road and play some really good teams and get the W (win),” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
A dejected Wembaneyama said Gilgeous-Alexander “made the shot, but nothing he hasn’t made all season.”
“We’ve been working on it, we just didn’t apply too much,” the Frenchman said.
Oklahoma City is trying to become the first team to win back-to-back championships since Golden State in 2017 and 2018.
The Thunder amassed a league-high 64 regular-season wins, dominating the Phoenix Suns and LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
However, they lost 4 of 5 regular season games to the Spurs, who won 62 regular season games and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
The winner of the series will face either the New York Knicks or Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.
