The Oklahoma City Thunder came into Thursday night’s Game 6 of the Western Conference finals as heavy favorites to close out the series but through the first quarter and a half, the San Antonio Spurs have had other ideas.
San Antonio leads Oklahoma City 55–43 early in the second quarter, powered by a commanding 35–22 opening period that put the top-seeded Thunder on the back foot from the opening tip.
Victor Wembanyama is taking over
The young Spurs center has been the story of the first half so far, pouring in 17 points on 7 of 12 shooting, including 3-of-6 from three-point range. Wembanyama also has five rebounds, two steals and a block, finishing around the rim at a 67% clip. He currently sits at a plus-10 on the night by far the most impactful player on the floor.
His performance is precisely the kind of transcendent showing the Spurs will need if they hope to avoid elimination and push this series to a seventh game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is struggling
On the other side, the reigning MVP has been unusually quiet. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has just six points on 3 of 9 shooting through the first quarter and a half, with a minus-19 on the floor the worst mark of any player in the game. The Thunder were hoping SGA would deliver another signature performance to clinch the series, but the Spurs defense has so far kept him contained.
A victory tonight would put Gilgeous-Alexander in rare company: only six players in NBA history have won MVP and reached the NBA Finals in back to back seasons.
What’s at stake for both teams
For Oklahoma City, a win would send them to their second consecutive NBA Finals and give them a legitimate shot at becoming the first team since the 2017–18 Golden State Warriors to win back-to-back championships. The Thunder hold a 7–1 series record when leading 3–2 since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008–09.
For San Antonio, the stakes are equally stark. The Spurs are 1–13 in franchise history when trailing 3–2 in a playoff series, with their only successful comeback coming in 2008 against the then New Orleans Hornets. However, the Spurs are 2–0 this postseason when recovering from a series deficit though they have yet to face outright elimination until now.
Key numbers midway through the first half
San Antonio is shooting 52.5% from the field and an impressive 45.5% from three-point range. The Spurs have also held a 15 point lead at their peak advantage. Oklahoma City, by contrast, is connecting on just 45% of its shots and a cold 26.7% from beyond the arc, with Luguentz Dort going 1-of-5 from three.
Dylan Harper has provided a critical spark off the Spurs bench, scoring 12 points on 5 of 6 shooting. For OKC, Cason Wallace (8 points, two steals) and Jared McCain (5 points) have offered some bench production, but not enough to offset the deficit their starters have created.
The Jalen Williams factor
One notable subplot entering the night was the availability of Jalen Williams, who was listed as active after missing time with a hamstring injury. He has checked in but has just one point so far, suggesting his impact may be limited as he works his way back to full form. His health and effectiveness in the second half could prove decisive.
With the New York Knicks already waiting in the NBA Finals, the pressure is firmly on Oklahoma City to recover and on San Antonio to keep the belief alive. This one is far from over.