The Thunder's bench storms San Antonio to devour the Spurs

The party started off in style at the Frost Bank Center. Just a few minutes had passed in the third game of the Western Conference finals, and the San Antonio Spurs were already firmly in control against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Texan team opened the game with a spectacular 15-0 run that ignited the dedicated fans, who were enjoying a Western Conference finals at home for the first time in nine years.

The stands, colored in fuchsia, turquoise, and orange thanks to the shirts distributed by sections, erupted when Victor Wembanyama blocked a dunk attempt by Isaiah Hartenstein to cause a turnover. It was the best start to a conference finals game since detailed play-by-play stats began being recorded in the 1997-98 season.

However, the initial storm from San Antonio barely disrupted the calm of Oklahoma City. The change came from the bench, led by Alex Caruso, whose entrance completely altered the rhythm of the game.

“When you're down by 15 points, all alarms go off. You need to make a play immediately; you can't wait,” explained Caruso after the game.

Gradually, the Thunder started reacting until taking the lead at the beginning of the second quarter. After halftime, the defending champions definitively took control and ended up winning 123-108 to lead the series 2-1.

The key differential factor once again was the depth of the Oklahoma City roster. The Thunder's bench dominated with an impressive 76-23 lead in scoring against San Antonio's reserves. In fact, those 76 points represent the highest points scored by a second unit in conference finals or NBA Finals since starting lineups began being counted in 1971.

The absence of Jalen Williams, sidelined with a left hamstring injury, did not stop a team that continued to find answers in each of its replacements. For the second straight game, four Thunder reserves ended in double figures.

The unexpected protagonist was Jared McCain. The young point guard delivered the best playoff performance of his career with 24 points in just 27 minutes, also matching the best +/- of the game alongside Caruso. Oklahoma City outscored San Antonio by 28 points with McCain on the court.

Jaylin Williams also shined, achieving another personal playoff record with 18 points and a remarkable 5 of 6 from beyond the arc. Caruso contributed 15 points, and Cason Wallace added 11 more to complete the collective display.

“We have many players willing to do what the team needs,” Williams pointed out. “The injuries we've had throughout the year have strengthened us. They have prepared us to be ready when the moment comes”.

Although McCain is primarily known for his outside shooting, he had a tough night from three with a poor 2 of 10. Nevertheless, he found other ways to punish the Spurs defense. He scored 16 points in the paint and left one of the highlight plays attacking Wembanyama directly, using his body to create space before making a off-balance layup and celebrating by flexing his right arm.

The young guard's personality is even surprising within the Thunder locker room. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn't hold back praise for his teammate.

Thunder's Outstanding Performance

“He exudes confidence. He knows perfectly well who he is and what he can do. It doesn't matter if he makes or misses a shot, he always makes the next right play. He's always aggressive, calm, and attacks the moment,” highlighted the Oklahoma City star.

With their depth, competitive experience, and the emergence of role players like McCain, the Thunder once again showed why they remain the top title contender. And now, with a 2-1 series lead, they are getting closer to returning to the NBA Finals.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El banquillo de los Thunder asalta San Antonio para comerse a los Spurs