The Oklahoma City Thunder moved within one win of returning to the NBA Finals after beating the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals Tuesday night.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points and nine assists, helping Oklahoma City build a second-half lead that they maintained through the final minutes. The Spurs, who trail the series 3-2, received 24 points and five rebounds from Stephon Castle, but Victor Wembanyama struggled offensively — finishing with a series-low 20 points.
Wembanyama, who previously scored 41 and 33 points in Spurs’ wins earlier in the series, shot 4-for-15 from the floor and missed all five of his three-point attempts. He appeared to have trouble finding his rhythm and was notably vocal during a timeout early in the third quarter, urging his teammates to stay focused after the Thunder opened an 18-point lead. The Spurs cut the deficit to eight later in the quarter but could not close the gap.
San Antonio’s coach Mitch Johnson acknowledged the importance of Wembanyama’s performance, but noted the team’s inconsistency. Meanwhile, outside the series, Knicks fans in Manhattan continue to chant for Wembanyama, whose future could be decided in the coming days. Johnson said he remains focused on his team’s immediate challenges, despite the excitement elsewhere in the playoffs.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter for updates.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
