The basketball world has been anticipating the San Antonio Spurs to fulfill the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the Western Convention Finals. Each groups took care of enterprise within the first two rounds to face off in one of the crucial extremely anticipated matchups in current reminiscence.
For the primary time within the playoffs, the Spurs will begin the sequence on the highway. San Antonio cut up their video games in OKC this yr. The Spurs had been 4-1 towards the Thunder within the common season. You possibly can primarily throw out the regular-season matchups between these two groups, as most of them weren’t performed at full well being, and each groups are loads higher because the final time they performed one another. The Thunder are undefeated within the playoffs thus far, and the Spurs have been at one other stage since February.
San Antonio has performed effectively on the highway within the playoffs, going 4-1. Stealing a sport in Oklahoma Metropolis goes to be a tall job, however this workforce has stepped as much as each event thus far this postseason. Profitable Recreation One on this sequence can be a significant feat and would sign that the Spurs can significantly win this sequence.
Might 18th, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT
Watch: NBC / Peacock | Hear: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: De’Aaron Fox – Questionable (ankle), Luke Kornet – Questionable (foot)
Thunder Accidents: Thomas Sorber – Out (knee)
The Thunder’s finest offense is their protection. When OKC can flip groups over, they get loads of open photographs in transition. They pressured 16.7 turnovers within the common season. They’re glorious at taking part in bodily on the level of assault and entering into passing lanes to drive steals. They’ll need to do that loads towards San Antonio, as a result of scoring within the half-court towards Victor Wembanyama will probably be tough. Producing straightforward appears to be like in transition will probably be a precedence for OKC.
The Spurs could be inclined to turnovers, primarily when going through excessive physicality on the perimeter. Stephon Citadel and Victor Wembanyama can do a bit an excessive amount of with the ball when pressured, resulting in turnovers on the opposite finish. After they beat OKC within the common season, the Spurs stored the turnovers low. They’ll have to maintain the ball to present themselves an opportunity to win this sequence.
The recipe for beating the Thunder within the common season was not letting them get straightforward appears to be like inside and forcing a few of their so-so shooters to beat you from deep. If Alex Caruso or Lu Dort took a frivolously contested three, that was a win for the Spurs. If these gamers are hitting photographs, protection turns into a lot more durable for the Spurs. Alternatively, San Antonio might want to hit their three-point photographs to maintain OKC sincere. The Thunder will direct loads of defensive consideration to Wembanyama in half-court offense. Guys like Julian Champagnie and Devin Vassell can present some aid in the event that they hit photographs.
It’s the rivalry that everybody says isn’t a rivalry. Wembanyama desires to destroy Chet Holmgren each time he steps on the basketball courtroom. Anybody watching can perceive that, it doesn’t matter what they are saying off the courtroom. That is the very best stakes competitors Wembanyama has confronted Holmgren in since FIBA play. It’s going to be fascinating to see how that chip on Wembanyama’s shoulder manifests itself on this sequence.
