The Spurs won a tough Game 7 at Oklahoma City Saturday night to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014. The 111-103 victory sets up a matchup with the Knicks for the NBA championship, with Game 1 tipping off Wednesday night in San Antonio.
Victor Wembanyama was a unanimous choice as Most Valuable Player of the Western Conference Finals (Twitter links). He received the Earvin “Magic” Johnson trophy in a vote by nine media members.
Wembanyama played 42 minutes in Game 7, finishing with 22 points, seven rebounds and two assists, and he got plenty of help from his teammates. De’Aaron Fox contributed 15 points, five assists and three steals and hit several big shots to stave off Thunder rallies. Julian Champagnie added 20 points with six three-pointers, Keldon Johnson sank two crucial threes in the fourth quarter and backup center Luke Kornet may have made the play of the game by blocking Isaiah Hartenstein on a breakaway (Twitter video link).
League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points, with many of them coming on difficult shots over multiple defenders. Cason Wallace added 17, but OKC couldn’t find much other scoring with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell both sidelined by injuries. Chet Holmgren had a particularly forgettable night, finishing with four points on just two shots from the field.
“They’re young, talented, well-coached, play the right way, seems like they like each other,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of the Spurs (Twitter link from Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic). “They have the make-up. You don’t beat us without the make-up.”
The victory not only gives the Spurs a shot at their first NBA title in 12 years, it may signify the start of a long-term shift in the balance of power. With the deepest roster in the league, the Thunder looked capable of stringing together a potential dynasty after winning 68 and 64 games the past two seasons. But San Antonio took down the defending champs with a younger core built around Wembanyama (22), Stephon Castle (21) and Dylan Harper (20).
This year’s series could also be the start of an extended high-stakes rivalry between the two franchises. The Thunder have the ability to bring back virtually their entire roster next season, but they also have a stockpile of draft picks if they want to chase a veteran star. Regardless of which path they choose, Oklahoma City and San Antonio figure to enter the 2026/27 season as heavy favorites to grab the top two seeds again and return to the Western Conference finals.
Wembanyama was overcome by emotion as the final seconds ticked away, and he spent several minutes hugging teammates and friends before heading to the locker room. Speaking at the post-game press conference, he made it clear that the Spurs’ mission isn’t complete, per Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.
“We want four more,” Wembanyama said. “We’re not done.”
All hail Wembanyama
And nba gets mad when teams tank. Teams tank for guys like Wemby. He has helped turn that franchise around so quickly. Of course others have helped(Castle, Harper, etc) but it’s Wemby team
I don’t think they mind the Spurs type of tanking where it’s just a bad team who plays all of their guys and tries to win. They did their tanking in the offseason.
It’s the blatant tanking like we saw from the Jazz and the Wizards where we see guys sitting for now reason and top players being removed at key moments. That is bad for the league.
Love Wemby bit go Knicks!
OKC needs to have a long decision about Chet this offseason. He looked scared out there and didn’t want the ball. Maybe call the bucks for Giannis. SGA was gassed trying to carry the team in game 7.
I like how Anthony Edwards gets gassed in the playoffs and everyone criticizes him. But for SGA it’s totally cool and everyone else’s fault.
SGA had a great game and tried everything he could. It’s not like he had a stinker
Everything but taking a Free Throw in the 4th. I dont recall him shooting one then.
Wemby has had Chet shook for years.
Pretty mangled use of timeouts by Thunder coach.
Kornet block stopped a significant run by Thunder.
For as good as Shai played, he passed up open looks down the stretch multiple times.
Without Cason Wallace, the Thunder would’ve lost by 20 or more.
With JDub and Ajay Mitchell, the Thunder would’ve won by 20 or more. Let’s not get into hypotheticals. The Kornet block definitely was a momentum shifter.
Shai was winded because of the lack of depth. With Jalen Williams out, they didn’t have another player who could create their own shot outside of maybe Alex Caruso.
It’s pretty even when they are healthy, but the Spurs had much more talent in this particular game.
WemVP
GO SPURS GO!!!
YES…So good.
SPURS IN 4 BABY!!!
WEMBY IS GOING TO ANNIHILATE THE PUNY, OVERRATED, BEAT-NO-ONE-GOOD-TO-MAKE-IT KNICKS!!!
KNICKS ARE A POVERTY FRANCHISE, PERIOD. DEAL WITH IT, ARROGANT NEW YORKERS, YOUR YANKEES ARE A 1900S TEAM, NOT A 2000S TEAM!
AND GOLDEN STATE IS GOONA GET GIANNIS AND STEPH IS THE GOAT AND BLAH BLAH BLAH