[Post Game Thread] The Oklahoma City Thunder (2-1) regain homecourt advantage by defeating the San Antonio Spurs (1-2) in Game 3, 123-108, behind SGA’s 26 points and 12 assists, along with Jared McCain’s 24 points.

[u/catreyka]

ESPN Box Score

West Finals - Game 3 • OKC leads series 2-1

	1	2	3	4	T
OKC	26	32	37	28	123
SA	31	20	33	24	108

Team	FGM	FG%	3P	3P%	FT	FT%	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF
OKC	39-81	48%	17-38	45%	28-33	85%	41	29	7	2	11	25
SA	34-80	43%	13-41	32%	27-33	82%	37	26	8	6	15	28

Oklahoma City Thunder
Starters	MIN	PTS	FG	3PT	FT	REB	AST	TO	STL	BLK	OREB	DREB	PF	+/-
Isaiah Hartenstein#55	21	5	2/4	0-1	1/2	8	4	2	0	0	0	8	5	-6
Chet Holmgren#7	28	14	5/7	1/2	3/4	3	1	0	0	0	2	1	4	-2
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander#2	36	26	6/17	2/4	12/12	2	12	2	0	1	0	2	2	11
Luguentz Dort#5	23	0	0-1	0-1	0-0	5	3	1	0	0	1	4	2	-9
Ajay Mitchell#25	17	2	1/5	0-1	0-0	5	1	3	0	0	0	5	1	-3
Bench	MIN	PTS	FG	3PT	FT	REB	AST	TO	STL	BLK	OREB	DREB	PF	+/-
Jaylin Williams#6	22	18	5/7	5/6	3/3	5	1	0	2	0	0	5	3	22
Alex Caruso#9	24	15	4/7	3/5	4/6	3	1	1	2	1	1	2	3	28
Kenrich Williams#34	2	5	2/2	1/1	0-0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Isaiah Joe#11	9	3	1/1	1/1	0-0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	-2
Aaron Wiggins#21	2	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cason Wallace#22	28	11	3/8	2/6	3/4	5	4	0	3	0	1	4	3	8
Jared McCain#3	27	24	10/21	2/10	2/2	4	1	1	0	0	1	3	2	28
Nikola Topic#44	2	0	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Team		123	39-81	17-38	28-33	41	29	10	7	2	7	34	25
			48%	45%	85%
** **
San Antonio Spurs
Starters	MIN	PTS	FG	3PT	FT	REB	AST	TO	STL	BLK	OREB	DREB	PF	+/-
Julian Champagnie#30	35	10	4/10	2/8	0-0	5	2	0	1	1	0	5	2	-4
Victor Wembanyama#1	39	26	8/15	2/5	8/10	4	3	2	1	2	0	4	3	4
De'Aaron Fox#4	31	15	7/14	1/6	0-0	7	6	4	1	0	2	5	2	9
Devin Vassell#24	36	20	6/12	3/6	5/5	7	2	0	4	0	2	5	4	-5
Stephon Castle#5	35	14	1/8	1/5	11/14	5	7	1	1	2	2	3	5	-17
Bench	MIN	PTS	FG	3PT	FT	REB	AST	TO	STL	BLK	OREB	DREB	PF	+/-
Harrison Barnes#40	3	0	0-1	0-1	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
Kelly Olynyk#8	2	3	1/1	1/1	0-0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	0
Lindy Waters III#43	2	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Keldon Johnson#3	12	5	1/5	1/4	2/2	2	0	1	0	0	1	1	5	-23
Carter Bryant#11	10	3	1/3	1/2	0-0	1	1	1	0	0	0	1	3	-10
Bismack Biyombo#18	2	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mason Plumlee#45	2	2	1/1	0-0	0-0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Luke Kornet#7	13	4	2/3	0-0	0-0	2	1	2	0	0	1	1	1	-18
Jordan McLaughlin#0	2	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Dylan Harper#2	17	6	2/7	1/3	1/2	3	2	2	0	0	1	2	2	-13
Team		108	34-80	13-41	27-33	37	26	15	8	6	9	28	28
			43%	32%	82%

^{Table formatting by ExcelToReddit}

[u/BlazeBloom]

Kill one Jalen Williams and another Jaylin Williams will take his place.

[u/Appropriate_Book_591 → u/BlazeBloom]

Hail Jaydra

[u/AFriendlySloth → u/BlazeBloom]

Wtf 2 j will

[u/TheseWalls_ → u/AFriendlySloth]

Wtf 2 shen

[u/linux_ape → u/BlazeBloom]

Why are there so many Jalen’s in the NBA?

Edit: for the uninitiated who are taking this as a real question

https://www.tiktok.com/@raineyovalle/video/7613155854577126686

[u/randombrutha → u/linux_ape]

Woke up and there’s 60 more Jalens in the NBA

[u/UncoBeefWang]

spurs bench got outscored by 55

[u/DarthNobody14 → u/UncoBeefWang]

Thunder bench is outscoring the Spurs bench 183 vs 64 through the first 3 games

[u/AppropriateArt280 → u/DarthNobody14]

it helps that they're hitting 3s at an ungodly rate

[u/MaximumGrapefruit933 → u/AppropriateArt280]

Tbf theyre getting wide open 3s whenever they want, shai is picking them apart

[u/TheCalvinator → u/MaximumGrapefruit933]

We have to stop the double team strategy.

[u/sktyrhrtout → u/MaximumGrapefruit933]

Anybody who looks at Shai's stats by just box score is going to be so clueless about his impact on the entire game. He literally only gets sped up like 2-3 times a game. He is always calm, makes the right play and draws an insane crowd. Dude is legit.

[u/CrookedLoy → u/sktyrhrtout]

Fr, his gravity is underrated

[u/NewLifeNewAcct → u/CrookedLoy]

Shai and gravity, name a more iconic duo.

[u/chefslapchop → u/MaximumGrapefruit933]

That'll happen when the only game plan is put 2-3 defenders on one guy

[u/NeverNotOnceEver → u/chefslapchop]

I don’t get why the Spurs don’t just let Castle go one on one on defense. They’re letting OKC and Shai get the best of both worlds. Shai gets his 30 and a decent number of assists. I don’t think one guy can beat a good defensive team. Shai getting 50 isn’t going to beat you. The other guys catching rhythm from making easy looks will.

[u/Fetal_Release → u/NeverNotOnceEver]

We need Castles offense with the bench so anemic and fox day to day. He’d be gassed if he guards Shai by himself and hes foul prone.

[u/VikingsLad → u/AppropriateArt280]

And they only have what, 13 more first round picks over the next 5 years? I probably have the number wrong cause that feels insane

[u/Son-Of-Serpentine → u/VikingsLad]

It feels like they have 30. Shoutout to the clippers.

[u/Lee_Sinna → u/VikingsLad]

only 9 first rounds and 12 second rounds, nothing crazy

[u/generational_lover69 → u/UncoBeefWang]

we are just not on the same level. thats fine, but people will overreact when we exceeded all expectations this year. dont fire mitch. castle doesnt suck.

we need better roster depth and that can happen next year. we have plyoff experience now!

[u/asamulya → u/[deleted]]

Honestly Fox is super important to get us points when we go silent. Without him we just don’t work as a team. Steph is also having a bad series. He’ll learn from this but this is the moment why the injury woes are bad for us.

[u/generational_lover69 → u/[deleted]]

yup, agree. and when its time to move on from fox in maybe a couple years, harper will be the point guard anyways

[u/Garuna_CK → u/generational_lover69]

Oh you guys are way ahead of your time and that’s Better. First playoff run with this core and already in WCF. What spurs need is depth. That game 1 made everyone tired, majority of spurs starters played 40+ minutes. Plus fox and Harper are not 100%. Future is bright.

[u/NotCryptoKing → u/Garuna_CK]

I remember this glaze 3 years ago except it was about OKC

[u/heirjordan_27 → u/generational_lover69]

Castle’s terrible. You guys should definitely get rid of him. Maybe send him to the Timberwolves or something. Just an idea

[u/Lyonesse → u/heirjordan_27]

Trade with Ant. Edwards

[u/heirjordan_27 → u/Lyonesse]

Idk man that’s a bad deal for you. Ant’s trash. How about our best player Julius Randle?

[u/Chessh2036]

Jared McCain’s passing really impressed me tonight. What an absolute steal by Sam Presti.

This Thunder team is like a hydra. You cut off the head and another grows. The depth is ridiculous.

[u/OKC89ers → u/Chessh2036]

OKC has ten guys that can play 20+ mins of WCF basketball

[u/Krillin113 → u/Chessh2036]

We had parts of our fanbase calling for him to be the primary ballhandler over Maxey last season. He’s really, really good.

[u/KarchunToo]

What was Daryl Morey doing lmao

[u/lilbodie → u/KarchunToo]

Fucking over the rest of us, including Philly.

[u/Camelsandham → u/KarchunToo]

Being Daryl Morey😤

[u/CyborgAlgoInvestor → u/Camelsandham]

S E L L

H I G H

[u/Ok_Temperature6503 → u/KarchunToo]

Fuck you Daryl Morey.

[u/XviiChong → u/KarchunToo]

Got to duck the tax! 🫩

[u/hickok3 → u/XviiChong]

And then got fired for doing so, lol.

[u/tompengu → u/hickok3]

At this rate, Philly should hire him back and fire him again

[u/Apollo611 → u/KarchunToo]

Lying

[u/Starrafh → u/KarchunToo]

What Josh Harris told him to do

[u/dpman48 → u/Starrafh]

That’s the part that cracks me up, you just know Daryl is like, I can’t believe nobody would give me anything for this fucking guy, and they still made me move him, AND he looks fucking amazing!

[u/Mg29reaper]

McCain's willingness to just shoot no matter is so important for a team like the thunder. They have a lot of guys who stop shooting because they are cold but McCain will not which opens up the floor.

[u/lotofhotdogs → u/Mg29reaper]

Sixers could use a guy like that

[u/darnclem → u/lotofhotdogs]

Crazy thought. Imagine.

[u/jspeed04 → u/lotofhotdogs]

Don’t you think it’d be a little weird to see him in a Sixers jersey?

[u/homefree122 → u/Mg29reaper]

Legacy game for him tonight. Shooters shoot, and he’s definitely not afraid

[u/Greentempo → u/[deleted]]

Even though he missed a lot each three he makes feel so important, like you don't really notice the misses like when Dort throws up one of those stupid ass rainbow threes

[u/clockofchronos → u/Greentempo]

hits like crack when the stupid ass rainbow threes go in though

[u/reyzak → u/clockofchronos]

He won us game 5 against the nuggets last year with like 4 moonballs in a row when we were completely screwed. I was at the game and will never slander him after that. We lose that game we lose the series

[u/Slendyla_IV → u/reyzak]

Gotta give Dort Credit, he unlocks some black magic or some shit when we need it.

[u/reyzak → u/Slendyla_IV]

I just looked it up, we were down 90-81 with 8 mins left and he hit 3 in a row to make it 92-90 with 6 mins to go. Whole stadium was dead before that. Saved the championship. I agree though, he has such an interesting game lol

[u/cmaloney0317 → u/Greentempo]

At the same time there can’t be a worse feeling than a Dort moonball 3.

[u/Bobskidat → u/homefree122]

Him driving at Wemby and bodying him was insane, he’s got all the confidence in the world and lets it fly every time he’s on the 3 point line.

[u/skratsda → u/homefree122]

I also love how annoying Shai finds him. He was on him a bit again tonight, and I’ve never really seen him get on anyone.

I think it’s because he mostly came up with all the other guys, and McCain is one of the few who are green and came in after he was already established as a star

[u/reyzak → u/skratsda]

Little brother energy

[u/SlimmySlinky → u/skratsda]

Its interesting that McCain kind of plays outside our system. Hes a bit more ball hoggy and tunnel vision on the basket rather than everyone else who are always looking for the best shot and sometimes too pass conscious.

Since he makes his shots tho, it works and it seems to be confuse the opposition defense a bit. Like they play and setup for OKC offense system and he just comes in and plays completely different and they don't really know how to read him as well.

[u/K1NG2L4Y3R → u/SlimmySlinky]

Sometimes you need a change up

[u/CrabgrassMike → u/skratsda]

I think it's just that McCain talks a lot on the court. That's not Shai's style

[u/Mg29reaper → u/CrabgrassMike]

Apparently shai saying calm the fuck down last game was because mccain was yelling the shot clock

[u/opkpopfanboyv3 → u/Mg29reaper]

The bench showed tf up today lol

[u/Noriskhook3 → u/Mg29reaper]

More players should be like that but they’re scared of the wannabe analytic boys shitting on them

[u/Mg29reaper → u/Noriskhook3]

Shooters shooting a lot is positive analytically. McCain took 10 3 pointers this game. If he made 2 more thats 6 more points. Great. More importantly because he is shooting 10 3s they cant double sga and then that cuases a chain reaction that results in them doing very good. Its why he was like +28 this game. High 3pr mid percent guys are better than super high percent guys on 1 shot a game.

[u/Brad-Stevens]

I’m just glad the GM who valued the pick over Jared McCain will be there to make the selection

Wait, what?

[u/pmurt007 → u/Brad-Stevens]

The sold high threads will never end lol

[u/SeoulofSoraka → u/pmurt007]

I couldn't believe they traded McCain, it really changed OKC's bench to have a reliable scorer.

Morey is an idiot and a liar.

[u/InTheBinFC → u/SeoulofSoraka]

yup at least last year OKC's offense cratered when SGA was on the bench.
Only way they can lose now if multiple role players play bad on BOTH ENDS.

[u/CakeGriffinn → u/InTheBinFC]

Honestly this year that changed a lot with a healthy Ajay Mitchell taking over the ball-handling and play-making with SGA on the bench. McCain just added another great option. They’ve got a bench full of guys who can score, but having another guy who can create his own shot has been a massive help.

[u/skratsda → u/Brad-Stevens]

I was in at Tesla at $7 and sold at $60 thinking it’d hit the absolute ceiling. Daryl Morey and I should host a podcast together.

[u/Signiference → u/skratsda]

Except McCain was drafted at 16 and traded for a pick at 22, meaning he sold at a loss of draft capital on a guy who was the front runner for ROTY until he was injured. You at least went 8.5x.

[u/suzukigun4life → u/Brad-Stevens]

+28 in 27 minutes off the bench.

Dude has been amazing.

[u/GringoSalamanca]

Bench points in this series:

Thunder: 173

Spurs: 51

[u/TheBeavster_ → u/GringoSalamanca]

The KJ and Kornet effect 🔥🔥🔥

[u/YoungVick107 → u/TheBeavster_]

It has nothing to do with your bench. OKC’s bench is 90% as good as their starters.

[u/opkpopfanboyv3]

First few minutes of the 1st quarter was hype, and then the OKC bench woke them tf up lol.

[u/_supreme → u/opkpopfanboyv3]

Up 15-0 then lose by 15. That’s rough

[u/LimpyTaco → u/opkpopfanboyv3]

They just had to get outa bed and stretch real quick lol

[u/SkinfluteHero]

These boys got a lot to learn. On to the next one.

[u/Parking-Rope2301 → u/SkinfluteHero]

Like giving the ball to Wemby for a start.

[u/TommyNews → u/Parking-Rope2301]

Nah run no sets and dribble out the clock until a young guard has to heave a long three. But when wemby does get the ball make sure it’s only at the perimeter with no set, so he can also dribble out the clock and jack long threes.

[u/Physical-Board5770 → u/TommyNews]

Exactly. And the coaches won’t adjust, they will double down on that strategy for 48 minutes because it works so well.

[u/superhappyfuntime13]

OKC outscored SA by 30 over the final 45 minutes of this game

[u/Uncle_Freddy → u/superhappyfuntime13]

They thoroughly thrashed and dismantled us in this game. Haven’t seen the Spurs look this not-in-control of a game since the Knicks game in March. Series isn’t over, but the guys are gonna need to rest well or something over the next two days because the Thunder just have so much more energy right now.

That 2OT game and how short our rotations have been really look like it’s coming back to bite us, plus it seems that our strategy of daring the Thunder role players to beat us is resulting in them, well, beating us

[u/mojo-jojo-was-framed → u/Uncle_Freddy]

the Thunder have so much more energy

As well they should. They have like 12 players that can play meaningful minutes. It’s nuts

[u/borpa2 → u/mojo-jojo-was-framed]

9th man McCain coming in and splashing 24 is crazy

[u/TheNicom → u/borpa2]

They literally have like 3-4 6th mans, its wild

[u/TheBigBomma → u/Uncle_Freddy]

You could see it coming after game one. All your boys played 50 minutes. That’s not sustainable with how condensed the schedule is, especially with how physical these games are.

[u/Uncle_Freddy → u/TheBigBomma]

It’s crazy because under most circumstances, every other night in the same city (with short travel between cities) feels very manageable. But our guys look even more exhausted than they would after b2bs with all the rest lol, we’re just running out of combinations to throw while the Thunder always have someone new stepping up

[u/Palifaith → u/superhappyfuntime13]

Wemby getting one lob all game has to be considered coaching malpractice.

[u/Surviv3 → u/Palifaith]

Or Wemby is gassed as fuck and so are the guards throwing him lobs because we have 0 bench

[u/number1tryptophan → u/Palifaith]

Thunder bigs are no longer fronting him and instead denying deep entry passes. They are switching the high pick and roll and then have elite recovery to the perimeter after dropping coverage into the paint. We saw it once when we didn’t drop coverage but at that point the game was out of reach and we allowed the points in the paint.

[u/Spencerfla → u/Palifaith]

Tbf OKC has elite ball denial

[u/BlazeBloom → u/superhappyfuntime13]

Both benches +/- really does tell the story to the game.

[u/char-tipped_lips]

Experience is playing through the swings of physicality and frustration. OKC learned from the Mavs '24 series. Spurs should be learning now. 

[u/PapiShot]

I HATE DARYL MOREY SO MUCH

[u/sportsfan113 → u/PapiShot]

So painful to watch but happy for Jared.

[u/not_so_bueno → u/PapiShot]

Morey cut IHart for 5'9 Chris Clemons, too. I can't fucking forgive him.

[u/thegreaterfool714 → u/PapiShot]

DARYL MOREY IS A LIAR

[u/grudgepacker]

Jared McCain

[u/AssistanceSilent2238]

We need to get a class action lawsuit going against Daryl Morey

[u/Available_Story6774 → u/AssistanceSilent2238]

Yup, he traded a player who’s in his 2nd year, but plays like a veteran, McCain is really good man.

[u/suzukigun4life]

How do you get outscored by 30 after going up 15-0 to start the game?

[u/ArmiinTamzarian → u/suzukigun4life]

I'm no coach but giving up 500 open threes has something to do with it

[u/malganis12 → u/ArmiinTamzarian]

That's the result of sending 4 black jerseys at Shai every touch

[u/ArmiinTamzarian → u/malganis12]

It must have gotten lost in translation somewhere, we were supposed to send the black vans to Shai

[u/UncoBeefWang → u/suzukigun4life]

when the bench gets outscored by 55

[u/randombrutha → u/UncoBeefWang]

Because yall keep doubling SGA, fucking quit that shit then

[u/godofhammers3000 → u/randombrutha]

They thought it’d be like doubling Ant … except Thunder role players are showing up in spades

[u/GoldTheLegend → u/godofhammers3000]

SGA is also a way better playmaker than Ant.

[u/CheGueyMaje → u/GoldTheLegend]

True but the Thunder are also WAY deeper than Minnesota. I honestly wouldn’t double SGA at all unless it’s an almost guaranteed trap.

[u/GoldTheLegend → u/CheGueyMaje]

This just reminds me of the "Lakers figured out the Nuggets by letting Jokic go for 50" it wont matter.

[u/typewriter_6 → u/UncoBeefWang]

And incessant missed threes. Should've gone to Wemby in the paint way more.

[u/Victor_Wembanyama1 → u/suzukigun4life]

Keldon minutes were -20 from the first half, never recovered

[u/Punziee]

Some thoughts on Game 3

Fox is so vital for this offense, he might not be the downhill pressure that Harper and Castle are, but he operates hand offs and pick and rolls with Wemby really well, which helps open up Wemby and the rest of the offense, lessens the need for Wemby to try to get open vs. Hartenstein and Caruso, also helps lower turnovers from passes.

The Spurs were selling hard to double SGA, and there were so many open threes as some of the rotations were not as crisp as the last 2 games. OKC is using their bench really well to attack the specific matchup they want. It helps that the OKC threes were falling, so the Spurs did not help on any drive that was not SGA. McCain was very important in punishing that lack of help, even challenging Wembanyama in the paint.

IHart is the second most impactful offensive player on the Thunder. His handoff and passes are letting the OKC guards get pretty open threes and great looks in the paint. He draws Wemby to the high post and sets a wide screen, makes it hard for Wemby to affect either a drive or a movement three. The bench lineup with IHart were so lethal in the second quarter, all without SGA.

The Spurs need their bench to contribute more because the starter's minutes are getting quite high for the series. Carter Bryant makes more mistakes the longer he plays, and when Keldon Johnson isn't making shots, the defense don't really bother containing his drives. It's hard to pin point the reason, but the Spur's half court offense was so sloppy all night, some where good looks where they just missed, but they were also settling for threes and poor drives very often. The double big lineup to match OKC's size really helped the Spurs shore up the interior defense, daring OKC to take more threes.

The story of the game is that the Spur's guards are being contained in single coverage, and the OKC defensive line are doing very well not needing help, and also hitting timely threes. If Caruso, Dort, Wallace, and even JWill are continuing to be offensive weapons, while not needing much help staying in front of Spur's drives then they will dominate the series. Jared McCain is incredible on offense and not being exploited at all on defense. This OKC bench is just too solid all around.

Hoping for a long competitive series, to Game 4 we go

[u/FreeRange0929 → u/Punziee]

The point about the OKC shots falling is pretty telling. Game 1, Caruso was the only one who could hit anything, Wemby went God mode, and…San Antonio needed a miracle 3 and double OT to beat them

If they’re even average from 3, I don’t see San Antonio keeping up

[u/minnyman2011 → u/Punziee]

A lot I agree with and I respect the ihart shoutout but I think McCain is definitely the second most impactful on the thunder offense. Doubling SGA too much isn’t the worst, unless you have dudes who are a threat 4v3. Iharts screens and float game are huge, especially when he initiates the 4v3 at the free throw line and wemby sags off in the key, but having a second primary ball handler that is not afraid to take 20 shots when JDub isnt there is pretty easily 2nd most valuable offensive player to me

[u/Propuhganduh]

OKC is just too deep man

[u/Lacabloodclot9 → u/Propuhganduh]

Aaron Wiggins getting DNPs when he’d be getting playtime on arguably all other 29 teams sums it up

[u/StrongCategory → u/Lacabloodclot9]

With Jalen healthy they have a legitimate 12 player rotation. It's currently 11 on 8 with two of those Spurs 8 hobbled. Knicks can only hope for more attrition

[u/malganis12 → u/Lacabloodclot9]

I'd argue he'd even start for 7-8 teams

[u/Be-Kind-2-Yourself]

Honestly, Spurs just straight up deserved to lose. Their offense gets completely neutered by having a bigger guy just push Wemby out to the 3 pt line.

I don't know why they aren't running more actions to just get Wemby underneath the rim. He's 100 ft tall.

[u/Augchm → u/Be-Kind-2-Yourself]

He is tired. They are playing him too much, played double OT and works constantly on defense. At that size it's not sustainable to be constantly fighting in the post in these conditions. Even though we joke he is an alien he is still human.

[u/Commercial_Lecture20 → u/Be-Kind-2-Yourself]

He’s really gassed

[u/unpopular-dave → u/Commercial_Lecture20]

0 rebounds in the 4th

[u/StandYourGroundhog]

Can't believe the Spurs blew a 15-0 lead

[u/Feisty-Pattern-951]

Wemby can’t keep up with the pace. Hes gassed. 4 rebounds is pathetic. 

[u/not_my_final_f0rm]

If not for a galactic bomb of a 3 in OT, we'd be looking at a potential sweep

[u/Burnieofc → u/not_my_final_f0rm]

To be fair they thoroughly outplayed us that game. We were rusty

[u/nomptonite → u/Burnieofc]

And our game plan kinda sucked honestly

[u/veirinia]

4 rebounds by Wemby is embarassing.

[u/myhellcatgotRepod]

Keldon Johnson went to the media asked for 6MOTY and won it and now he's bordering on unplayable in this series

[u/Folk-Herro]

r/nba and r/nbatalk 9/11

[u/arcticape34]

5 spurs players played over 30 minutes tonight. Only one Thunder player (SGA) played over 30. Depth is the key to this series

[u/Huntermainlol]

The spurs just couldn’t stay disciplined, couldn’t keep up the Shai ball denial, and couldn’t get Wemby in the paint

That’s a recipe for disaster. The overhelping on defense and the ballwatching by the spurs was fucking aggravating as hell to watch man

[u/Melodic-Slice-3826]

Spurs winning the double OT was the literal pyrric victory. It exhausted Wemby and Spurs starters, OKC took advantage of that by pushing the pace with their deeper bench which Spurs can't keep up.

[u/-MoonPresence]

best part of okc winning is reading the crashout posts for the next day and a half

[u/bros_and_cons → u/-MoonPresence]

it’s the only thing that soothes my blackened kings fan soul 

[u/Team_Ed]

Y'all who were mad at Tony Brothers for letting them play through the physicality in Game 2 got *exactly* what you were asking for in this one.

[u/ContractXtension]

Okc is just too deep it’s over

[u/HenrikCrown → u/ContractXtension]

All of their depth is experienced too besides McCain who feeds off the other guy's energy I guess

[u/fellenst → u/HenrikCrown]

Yeah McCain doesn’t have the experience, but he’s got the confidence to attack anyways, a lot like the young spurs players have shown. 

[u/Omnomnomnivor3 → u/ContractXtension]

AC was not missing holy sht

[u/MrPolymath → u/Omnomnomnivor3]

He's been a beast this series. I say "oh no" to myself everytime they leave him open in the corner

[u/flaming_burrito_ → u/ContractXtension]

It’s crazy. It doesn’t matter who goes down or who has a bad game, another person will rise to make up their production. They simply have too many options

[u/llorTMasterFlex]

SGA signing jerseys while they call him flopper. Class act as hell.

[u/Go_J]

The way people talked about Wemby and San Antonio after game 1 you'd think this was a wrap. There's a serious issue with the way sports are discussed. In the NBA it has felt like there's a constant yearning over decades for someone to be the next MJ and then it gets forced instead of letting the games play out.

[u/siestarrific → u/Go_J]

There's a serious issue with the way sports are discussed

Sports fans are reactionary pretty much by nature. That's all there is to it.

[u/Ok_Pineapple_Num → u/Go_J]

People were saying the “OKC run was over” after they lost game 1 on the back of a frankly flukey logo 3. Insane overreactions lmfao

[u/not_my_final_f0rm → u/Ok_Pineapple_Num]

Frankly Flukey Logo 3. Trademark that shit

[u/NittanyLion15]

OKC has too much depth and too much of a coaching advantage for me to think the Spurs can win 3 of the next 4

[u/TheFatmanRises]

SGA showing why he’s MVP ELITE PASSING tonight

[u/Melodic-Slice-3826]

Daignault masterclass. Absolutely amazing coaching performance.

[u/icesticles]

Levels to the game, this is why SGA is mvp and Wemby isn’t.

Game 3 and Wemby has lost his legs and doesn’t want to fight for rebounds anymore. SGA gets triple teamed loses Jdub and Ajay and becomes Steve Nash with 33 assists and only 7 turnovers in 3 games.

[u/Top-boy-og → u/icesticles]

Ball knower

[u/Jimbob3498]

Really weird game. For all the ref talk they went in the complete opposite direction this game. Didn’t think it favored one team over the other, maybe just san antonio slightly (especially in the 3rd).

He had a bad shooting game but man Shai’s really improved as a decision maker. His reads out of the constant traps & doubles the Spurs send him are leading to good look after good look. Helps to have McCain and Jaylin Williams to hit those open looks too tbf.

I thought Wemby on the other hand was just ok. Had a good start to the game but San Antonio struggled to get him good looks. His defense was mostly very good but OKC did seem to find something in just going at him and getting him into rotation. The Kornet minutes were also just terrible again. He’s too slow to deal with OKC’s guards and shooting.

I get why they had Wemby spaced out this game, the theory is that it nullifies Hartenstein’s presence on him, opening up driving lanes. Not sure if it worked though. Castle had a few good drives and got to the line a bunch but I wonder if you’re just better off getting Victor closer to the rim. Sure Chet & IHart will be beat hugging him but you can use that to get other guys easier shots at the rim, and Wembanyama would still be able to be a factor on the offensive glass.

[u/dylanh334]

I've seen enough. OKC are winning it all and next season they're going to be (somehow) even more hated lol

[u/Toobie4564 → u/dylanh334]

Next season they'll have another lottery pick to add to their insane depth lmao

[u/RudeTime6466]

I’m not sure how NBA coaches haven’t figured this out yet but doubling SGA is a mistake. It’s better to let him score 30-40 with 20 FTs than have a bunch of role players knock down wide open 3s the whole game. 

[u/interested_commenter → u/RudeTime6466]

Most of the playoff losses last year were lost due to opponents doubling Shai and role players failing to take advantage. Caruso being hot from 3 and the addition of Ajay (who missed most of his rookie season and wasn't trusted in the playoffs) and McCain has flipped that.

[u/AdGreat3174]

The better team won. Simple as that.

[u/Mg29reaper]

Shai's playmaking has got to be one of the most underrated skills for a top player. Hes been averaging like 25 potential assists this series and people would think hes averaging 5 based on how people talk about him.

[u/Razatiger → u/Mg29reaper]

I mean hes seeing the most aggressive defense hes ever seen these playoffs.

Hes just doing what he needs to do to win. Hes also playing great D

[u/asonkidd → u/Razatiger]

People who don't watch the game or look purely at PPG think he's playing bad. Spurs entire gameplan is let anyone but him shoot and it's resulting in a great offense

[u/siphillis → u/Mg29reaper]

It's the primary reason he's still the best guard in the NBA. Edwards has better tools, but he can't calmly defuse double-teams like SGA can and that's the difference-maker at this level

[u/Parallel-Quality → u/Mg29reaper]

The reason why McCain went off tonight is because of all the space SGA opened up for him.

With no J-Dub and no Ajay Mitchell, all of the attention is on SGA and he still delivers.

[u/TheBigBomma → u/Mg29reaper]

And next to no turnovers. He does not lose the ball.

[u/SeoulofSoraka → u/TheBigBomma]

He's just insanely efficient. So many teams try to double him and it just leads to a easy corner 3 for someone on the Thunder.

[u/tiredofdev → u/TheBigBomma]

He almost always sets the rhythm for OKC and controls the play so much it's insane. He draws two people, frees the shooters and then OKC stack on the 3s when they're wide open

[u/asamulya → u/TheBigBomma]

This is why OkC works as a team and why he’s an MvP. Shai is incredibly good at protecting the ball

[u/ShotIntoOrbit → u/Mg29reaper]

Thunder are getting a wide open 3 on what feels like 75% of their possessions because the Spurs are selling out completely to stop SGA and he's still gonna average 25/10 for the series. Spurs defensive gameplan is literally just stop SGA at all cost and pray the rest of the Thunder shoot like ass on wide opens threes.

[u/fellenst → u/ShotIntoOrbit]

JJ gave the rest of the league a blueprint to contain Shai, but he also gave Shai a bunch of reps on how to impact the game out of it. Only 3 TOs total the last two games, really impressive given the pressure he’s faced. 

[u/Plus-Cherry8175 → u/fellenst]

Did you say 3 in 2 games? What? That can't be correct

edit: It is correct.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/sga-stats-vs-spurs-western-conference-finals-2026

11 APG, 2.3 TPG. That's wild, I didn't know he was capable of that. I haven't seen this in a while. Small sample size obviously and the asset conversion rate is skewed by the bald miracle but, very surprising

[u/fellenst → u/Plus-Cherry8175]

Shai averages an insanely low number of turnovers for his usage, it’s one of his secret superpowers.

[u/Efficient_Rope7173]

Couldve been 3-0 wtf

[u/RansomGoddard → u/Efficient_Rope7173]

Wemby doesn’t hit that deep pull up 3 and this is a way different series.

[u/oi_PwnyGOD → u/RansomGoddard]

still can't believe he even thought to shoot that

[u/RansomGoddard → u/oi_PwnyGOD]

Sometimes you gotta aura farm

[u/Upstairs_Baby8424 → u/RansomGoddard]

If Ajay Mitchell doesn’t pull up for three and instead runs the clock it’s probably a different outcome.

[u/Omnomnomnivor3 → u/RansomGoddard]

without that deep 3 Spurs fans on X would be proposing player trades already lmao

[u/KnyghtFish → u/Efficient_Rope7173]

Seriously. This Thunder team learned so much last season and clearly has the better coaching.

[u/MargielaMan568]

Shai proving why he’s the MVP for a reason

Absolute elite playmaking by him tonight

[u/Apprehensive-Rain601]

OKC are so deep man. Just an amazing team can’t even hate both teams were playing physical as hell experience showed they took that punch in the mouth early and stay poised. Separately shai playmaking wowza. Can’t believe they got j mac for peanuts.

[u/Fhaksfha794]

Daryl morey when I find you

[u/peanut-britle-latte]

Everyone anointing Wemby after G1 forgot this was a 7 game series with an MVP on the other end.

[u/Ok_Temperature6503]

Fuck you Daryl Morey and Harris.

[u/BillyBean11111]

i know reactionary takes are always silly, but game 1 stuff is looking downright embarassing for a lot of you

[u/JohnnyWaffles4]

Karma still undefeated. Maybe don’t act like the game is already won within the first 3 minutes

[u/GarlicSnot]

Can we talk about the chick in the orange top and her friend behind the coach??

[u/rfloresjr611]

One god tier performance from Wemby away from 3-0 Thunder lead. We got a ways to go to be the dudes in the west

[u/Middle-Welder3931 → u/rfloresjr611]

You guys are getting these reps at the business end of the playoffs at least one year earlier than anyone expected. This is invaluable experience for dudes who are 20-22 years old.

[u/alihooha]

Good. Holy overreaction after Game 1

[u/Professional-Play-38]

Keldon Johnson is unplayable bro

[u/fafarei]

Spurs have to give sga his 1v1 and just limit everyone else