The Oklahoma City Thunder responded to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday with a 122-113 win to even the West finals at 1-1 in a duel that was costly for both teams due to injuries to Jalen Williams and Dylan Harper.
With the series now 1-1, the series moves to San Antonio for the next two games, to be played on Friday and Sunday.
Thunder found the formula
The Thunder knew what it was like to lose the first game at home:
Last season they lost to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Semifinals and also to the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals.
Both series won in seven by Oklahoma City.
Mark Daigneault gave Isaiah Hartenstein the thankless task of stopping Victor Wembanyama.
On fire Monday in the first game of the series with 41 points and 24 rebounds.
The German was outstanding, especially in the first half, holding Wembanyama to just seven points and five rebounds (Filed as: Oklahoma City Thunder ties West final).
Injuries hit the final
Along the way, the Thunder lost Jalen Williams to an apparent hamstring relapse that has kept him out of virtually the entire playoffs.
He retired in the first quarter and did not return to the court.
Later in the third quarter, the Spurs would see Dylan Harper go down, also with hamstring discomfort after an awkward fall.
The rookie, who was establishing himself as Wembanyama’s second string in San Antonio, did not return to the court either.
His possible absence joins that of De’Aaron Fox in San Antonio, who has missed both games in Oklahoma City with a sprained ankle.
Leaving the Spurs without two of their main point guards (Filed under: Oklahoma City Thunder ties the West final).
Shai strikes back
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The Spurs and Thunder had set the bar high after their duel on Monday.
It was a battle that was set to be repeated after a start of maximum equality with a 31-31 close first quarter.
But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, humbled in that first game by Wembanyama after being voted league ‘MVP’, stepped up to impose the champion’s dominance.
The Canadian had to listen during the last 48 hours how his ‘MVP’ was questioned and become the object of comparisons with the French center.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished the game with 30 points and 9 assists, to ‘Wemby’s 21 points and 17 rebounds (Filed under: Oklahoma City Thunder ties West final).
Thunder punished every mistake and extinguished the comeback
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The Thunder went into the halftime break with a +11 (62-51).
While the Spurs accumulated losses and mistakes.
San Antonio committed 21 turnovers that translated into 27 points for Oklahoma City, its real Achilles heel on Wednesday.
Wembanyama and company pressed in the second half to level the match on two occasions.
But each comeback attempt was met with a demoralizing triple from the Thunder, who could not afford a second home loss.
With 1:25 to go, the Spurs pulled within five (118-113) and possession after an offensive foul by Gilgeous-Alexander.
But Devin Vassell missed the three-pointer and San Antonio gave no more (Filed as: Oklahoma City Thunder ties West final).
A very costly match for both teams
QuéOnnda.com
Shai led Thunder’s coup
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In addition to SGA’s 30 points, Alex Caruso contributed 17 points and Chet Holmgren 13.
While local hero Hartenstein signed a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Stephon Castle was the Spurs’ leading scorer with 25 points, although nine of San Antonio’s losses were his.
Vassell scored 22 points, in addition to Wembanyama’s 21.
Wednesday’s win is just the Thunder’s second victory over the Spurs in seven meetings this season (Filed as: Oklahoma City Thunder ties West finals).
With information from EFE
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