The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-122 on Monday in the first game of the West Finals, in a serious warning from Frenchman Victor Wembanyama (41 points and 24 rebounds) to the reigning NBA champions.
It was the starting signal for a finals that looks epic after what was seen in this first game, between the two best teams in the league, which dominated the regular season with 64 and 62 wins, respectively.
Eclipses the MVP
Victor Wembanyama, best defender of the year, clearly beat Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Voted the league’s most valuable player for the second consecutive year, an MVP announced last night by the NBA and offered to the Paycom Center today.
To ‘Wemby’s 41 points and 24 rebounds, Gilgeous-Alexander could only respond with 24 points and 12 assists.
Finals that promise to be epic
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The Thunder were on notice. The Spurs had already won twice this season in Oklahoma City.
In fact, San Antonio had beaten them in four of their five meetings, leading Gilgeous-Alexander to acknowledge that they were a better team.
Monday’s win was the Spurs’ fifth victory over the Thunder in six games, a true blow of authority (Filed under: Victor Wembanyama destroys the Thunder).
The Thunder, surprised
Despite that record, the Thunder were caught off guard from the start of the game.
Perhaps due to a lack of rhythm or competitiveness during a very comfortable start to the playoffs.
Oklahoma City was coming off a long bye week after dispatching the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0.
The same result they obtained against the Phoenix Suns in the first round.
In contrast, the Spurs, with almost no rest, needed six games to dispose of the Minnesota Timberwolves just 72 hours ago.
In addition, while the Thunder got back Jalen Williams, who missed most of the playoffs with a hamstring injury, the Spurs lost De’Aaron Fox to a sprained ankle.
Leaving the leadership of the team to young Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle.
Harper finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 7 steals, while Castle contributed 17 points and 11 assists, but had 11 turnovers (Filed under: Victor Wembanyama destroys Thunder).
Spurs once again imposed their dominance over OKC
For the Thunder, Williams contributed 26 points in his return, although their best player was Alex Caruso.
That kept Oklahoma City in the contest until forcing two overtimes. Caruso finished with 31 points.
The Spurs dominated almost the entire game, although never with a lead of more than 10 points.
The Thunder, experts in tight finishes, took advantage of that short margin to force a nail-biting finish.
In which they went ahead with less than two minutes left on a three-pointer by Caruso (Filed as: Victor Wembanyama destroys the Thunder).
Wembanyama and Harper seal the deal in double overtime
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But the Spurs, inexperienced but unabashed, were not overwhelmed by the champions or the deafening atmosphere at the Paycom Center.
They held their nerve for two epic overtimes.
San Antonio had the last possession of both regulation time and the first overtime.
But a block by Chet Holmgren on Wembanyama and a handball by Alex Caruso delayed the visitors’ victory.
In the second overtime, Victor Wembanyama with 9 points and Harper with 5 points knocked down the Thunder making it 1-0 in the West.
With information from EFE
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