Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sets the tone in Game 2 with 30 points as he leads the Thunder over the Spurs to tie the series at 1-1.
SAN ANTONIO – Now it’s the San Antonio Spurs’ turn to find answers against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.
The Thunder responded to Monday’s Game 1 double-overtime loss with a sound 122-113 victory in Game 2.
And as the teams focus on Game 3 – the winner of Game 3 of a 1-1 best-of-7 series wins the series 73.2% of the time – extenuating circumstances are complicating game plans and impacting the direction of the series.
Injuries are piling up, depth is being tested and the physical, mental and emotional challenge of a grueling series is apparent.
Here are three things to watch in Game 3 on Friday in San Antonio (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock).
1. Whose depth can better manage injuries?
Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams missed the final three quarters of Game 2 with left hamstring tightness, and that’s after a strain to that same muscle cost him two first-round games vs. Phoenix and all four conference semifinal games against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Spurs were without De’Aaron Fox (right ankle soreness) in the first two games of the series, and Dylan Harper, who moved into the starting lineup in place of Fox, sat out the final 16 minutes and 50 seconds with a right leg injury.
It is forcing the Spurs to go deeper into their bench than they normally do, and the absence of Fox is putting additional pressure on San Antonio’s ball-handlers.
Through two games, Oklahoma City’s bench has outscored the Spurs’ bench 107-41.
“We have to continue to trust our depth, and guys have to step up, and when their name’s called, answer the bell and be able to give us some quality minutes,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “As you do get tired and physicality heightens and intensity is ever-so present, you have to execute.
“There’s a mental, physical and emotional challenge and you have to be able to do that in the micro every possession and macro in terms the totality of how you have a disposition and work a game for 48 minutes.”
That could mean more minutes for Jordan McLaughlin, veteran Harrison Barnes and rookie Carter Bryant.
And for the Thunder, while it hurts to have Williams sidelined – he was an All-NBA selection in 2024-25 – they were 45-10 without him this season, and that’s not including the Game 3 victory against Phoenix when he exited the game in the second quarter and Game 2 against San Antonio.
Johnson said Fox, who re-aggravated the ankle in the second round against the Minnesota Timberwolves, will be a game-time decision for the rest of the playoffs.
“It’s a tough injury,” Johnson said. “He wouldn’t be playing with it in the regular season so he’s trying to tough it out.”
2. Turnovers will be a factor
San Antonio committed 23 turnovers in Game 1 and 21 in Game 2, leading to 55 points off of turnovers for Oklahoma City – 28 in Game 1 and 27 in Game 2.
The Spurs’ Stephon Castle has 20 turnovers through two games, including 11 that were partially obscured by the Spurs’ Game 1 victory. The mistakes became more glaring in a Game 2 loss. Of Castle’s four turnovers in the second quarter Wednesday, three of them led to seven Thunder points.
“We’ve addressed it, and we’ll continue to help him with some of his reads especially when he’s tired – whether that’s playing off two feet or getting off the ball earlier with the early pass and just letting the ball find the open man,” Johnson said.
Johnson added, “It’s not just Steph. He had too many turnovers, but our whole team did.”
Victor Wembanyama had four turnovers, leading to six Thunder points.
3. The Wembanyama chess match
Victor Wembanyama produced strong numbers in Game 2, but the Thunder found success with a fresh matchup, utilizing Isaiah Hartenstein.
As weird as this may be, the Thunder are willing to live with Wembanyama posting 21 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and four blocks, which was what he had in Game 2.
What the Thunder cannot afford is Wembanyama going for 41 points, 24 rebounds, three assists and three blocks, which is what he did in San Antonio’s Game 1 victory.
In Game 1, Wembanyama feasted at the rim with 26 paint points and attempted just two 3-pointers – one of them being the 28-footer that tied the score at 108-108 and forced the second overtime. In Game 2, Wembanyama had just 10 paint points and attempted seven 3-pointers.
It’s easy to see what scenario each side prefers. Oklahoma City made a defensive adjustment in Game 2, using 7-foot, 267-pound Isaiah Hartenstein as the primary defender on Wembanyama instead of the 6-foot-5, 187-pound Alex Caruso.
Johnson will look for ways to open the floor so Wembanyama can find some space even if Hartenstein is guarding him. And, in Game 2, there were about 12 minutes when Wembanyama was on the court and Hartenstein wasn’t. San Antonio needs to take advantage of those minutes.
The Thunder want to play physical and make the game as difficult as possible for Wembanyama. The Spurs want to find attacks that make the game easier. Eliminating turnovers and better ball movement are steps in the right direction.
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Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at jzillgitt@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
