The San Antonio Spurs are headed back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014 after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 in a thrilling Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.
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In a series that showcased two of the league’s brightest young contenders, San Antonio delivered when it mattered most, outlasting the defending champions on their home floor to book a Finals showdown with the New York Knicks.
As expected, the spotlight fell on the battle between two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama. Both stars delivered. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 35 points and nine assists, doing everything he could to keep Oklahoma City alive despite the absence of injured back-court teammates Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell.
Wembanyama led the Spurs with 22 points and seven rebounds, but San Antonio’s victory was built on contributions throughout the roster. Julian Champagnie produced one of the biggest performances of his career, knocking down six three-pointers on his way to 20 points, while veteran centre Luke Kornet provided a defining moment midway through the fourth quarter.
With Wembanyama on the bench after picking up his fifth foul, Kornet chased down a Thunder fast break and produced a momentum-shifting transition block that helped swing the game firmly in San Antonio’s favour.
The Thunder received a strong contribution from Jaylin Williams, who posted 11 points, 10 rebounds and four assists off the bench. However, Oklahoma City struggled to find enough support around Gilgeous-Alexander.
Chet Holmgren was largely neutralised by the Spurs throughout the series and managed just four points in Game 7, attempting only two shots and failing to record a field-goal attempt after the opening quarter. Questions will now be asked of the $240M man, who signed a five-year contract with the Thunder which goes through to the 2030-2031 season.
After dropping Game 5 on the road, the Spurs responded by winning the final two games of the series through physical defence, improved execution and greater composure in the biggest moments. It was that resilience that ultimately separated the teams. The victory caps off another milestone in what has been a remarkable postseason run for San Antonio’s young core.
Despite entering the playoffs with one of the youngest rotations in the league, the Spurs have eliminated the reigning champions and now find themselves four wins away from an NBA title.
Wembanyama added another major achievement to his rapidly growing resumé on Saturday night, claiming Western Conference Finals MVP.
The French superstar received all nine votes from the media panel, becoming the unanimous winner of the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Trophy, the first conference finals MVP award of his career.
But while Wembanyama accepted the trophy at centre court surrounded by his teammates, his focus quickly shifted to the bigger prize still within reach.
“We want four more,” Wembanyama said. “We’re not done.”
The 22-year-old was dominant throughout the seven-game series, averaging 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks while shooting 48 per cent from the field and 40 per cent from three-point range. His unforgettable 41-point, 24-rebound performance in the double-overtime Game 1 victory set the tone for the series.
For Spurs coach Mitch Johnson, Wembanyama’s rise on the biggest stage has come as no surprise.
“That young man has a rare desire to step into every moment that’s in front of him,” Johnson said. “He’s going to attack those moments. He has some rare, God-given ability, but he also puts in an incredible amount of work and preparation to maximise it.”
The respect for Wembanyama inside the Spurs locker room is equally clear. During the post-game celebrations, teammate Stephon Castle summed up what many around the league are beginning to believe.
“He’s the best player in the world,” Castle said.
Facing elimination after falling behind 3-2 in the series, Wembanyama helped spark San Antonio’s response with back-to-back victories to close out the defending champions. Before Game 7, he spoke openly about the mindset required to survive in a winner-take-all contest.
“It just raises all the little mistakes that we make,” Wembanyama said. “We’ve got to fight that. When your back is against the wall, it’s the best opportunity to do that.”
The Spurs ultimately answered the challenge, finishing the season with an impressive 9-4 record against Oklahoma City across the regular season and playoffs combined.
With the NBA Finals looming, Wembanyama remains as confident as ever.
“If we don’t know that it’s impossible,” he said, “we will do it.”
The Spurs will now turn their attention to the red-hot New York Knicks, who await in a Finals rematch of the iconic 1999 championship series. This time, however, a new generation of stars will take centre stage.
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