Wembanyama played 31 minutes of Sunday’s game
The San Antonio Spurs responded emphatically, securing a dominant 103-82 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on their home court. The win levels their best-of-seven NBA Western Conference finals series at 2-2.
Spurs standout Victor Wembanyama, who previously expressed dissatisfaction with his performance in game three, spearheaded the effort with an impressive stat line: 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and two steals.
“We just responded,” stated the 22-year-old Frenchman. “It was nothing amazing. It wasn’t magic. We just did what we needed to do.”
“The series is far from over.”
San Antonio established an early 15-point advantage, which the Thunder narrowed to five with just over a minute remaining in the second quarter.
However, the Spurs countered with seven unanswered points before halftime, punctuated by a remarkable three-pointer from Wembanyama from beyond the half-court line.
The Spurs also showcased a formidable defensive performance, limiting the Thunder to just 38 first-half points, their lowest output of the season.
The reigning NBA champions’ overall point total represented their lowest since December 2, 2021, and their lowest in a playoff game since 2020.
With the outcome largely decided, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led his team with 19 points, was held out for the entirety of the fourth quarter.
No other Thunder player exceeded 12 points.
Game five is scheduled for Tuesday in Oklahoma City (01:30 BST Wednesday), followed by game six in San Antonio on Thursday (01:30 BST Friday).
In the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks hold a commanding 3-0 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers and have the opportunity to close out the series in Cleveland on Monday (01:00 BST, Tuesday). The NBA Finals are slated to commence on June 4.