2026 NBA Playoffs

Live Updates: Thunder, Spurs aim to secure 2-1 lead in Western Conference Finals

Follow along with Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals with the NBA.com live blog, as the Thunder and Spurs look to secure a 2-1 lead.

NBA.com Staff

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder visit Stephon Castle and the Spurs in San Antonio for Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on NBC/Peacock. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)

Enjoy the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news and highlights from Friday’s action.

Happy Friday, hoops fans! Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals shifts 467 miles south to San Antonio, as the Spurs will host the Oklahoma City Thunder (Live on NBC & Peacock) with both teams fighting to take a 2-1 advantage in the series.

What we know about Friday’s game:

  • The team that wins Game 3 of a best-of-7 series tied at 1-1 goes on to win the series 73.2% of the time. Will the Spurs’ hometown crowd help them pull ahead? Or will the Thunder regain home-court advantage?
  • Injuries playing key role in Western Conference Finals. Game 3 of this thrilling series will be without Jalen Williams (hamstring) for OKC, as he’ll miss his seventh full postseason contest. Meanwhile, De’Aaron Fox (ankle) and Dylan Harper (adductor), who were listed as questionable leading up to this game, are both available for San Antonio. Fox will be making his debut in the Western Conference Finals after sitting out Games 1 and 2.
  • How will superstars dazzle fans next? Victor Wembanyama posted a historic performance in Game 1, tallying 41 points (14-25 FG), 24 rebounds and 3 blocks, then dropped 21 points (8-16 FG, 3 3PM), 17 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 swats in Game 2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander followed up his 24-point (7-23 FG), 12-assist, 5-steal outing in Game 1 with a clinical 30 points and 9 dimes on 12-for-24 shooting in Game 2.

MAY 22, 2026 / 9:50 ET

SGA, bench drive OKC’s 58-51 lead

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posts 9 points (4-9 FG, 1 3PM) and 6 assists in 17 minutes to help the Thunder secure a 7-point lead over San Antonio at halftime. The second unit has been an X-factor for OKC, as they’re outscoring the Spurs’ bench 39-10 through 24 minutes.

Thunder backup center Jaylin Williams drops a playoff career-high 14 points (4-6 FG) with four 3s in just 11 minutes, adding 3 rebounds and 2 steals with a +18 plus-minus. Alex Caruso (8 pts, game-best +20) and Jared McCain (8 pts, 2 reb, +16) are doing a bit of everything for the defending champs.

Devin Vassell (11 pts, 3 3PM, 4 reb), De’Aaron Fox (11 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl) and Victor Wembanyama (10 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 2 blk) lead the way for San Antonio. Tune in on NBC/Peacock to watch the second half!

MAY 22, 2026 / 9:36 ET

Thunder clicking in 2Q

OKC uses a 9-0 burst to take a 52-45 lead over the Spurs with 2:49 left before halftime. Isaiah Hartenstein’s (2 pts, 2 reb, 3 ast) stat line doesn’t look crazy, but his size, basketball IQ and passing have been difference-makers in the second quarter for the Thunder.

Jared McCain adds 8 points on 4-for-7 shooting off the Thunder bench, helping the road team secure a 35-10 advantage in bench scoring.

MAY 22, 2026 / 9:21 ET

Game 3 delivering so far

The Thunder rally back from a 15-point deficit to start the game, taking a 43-42 lead with 6:49 remaining before halftime. Game 3 has seen seven lead changes and two ties to this point, and it looks like fans are in for another awesome battle between these budding rivals.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is up to 5 points (2-6 FG) with a game-high 6 assists, and Jaylin Williams paces OKC with 11 points, three 3s and 2 steals off the bench.

De’Aaron Fox matches ‘J-Will’ with 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting to power the Spurs.

MAY 22, 2026 / 9:12 ET

Spurs on top after 1Q

San Antonio grabs a 31-26 advantage over the Thunder as we head to the second quarter. Victor Wembanyama is everywhere, dropping 7 points with two 3s, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, one steal and one block in 9 minutes, but he was called for his second personal foul just before the end of the frame.

In his return from a two-game absence, De’Aaron Fox tallies a game-high 9 points on 4-for-5 shooting in 9 minutes.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is scoreless on 0-for-3 shooting with 3 assists, but Alex Caruso (5 pts, 1 stl, 1 blk) and Jaylin Williams (8 pts, 2 3PM, 3 reb) are picking up the scoring slack through 12 minutes of play.

MAY 22, 2026 / 8:59 ET

OKC storms back

The Thunder trailed 15-0 to start Game 3, but back-to-back triples by Jaylin Williams has OKC down 24-19 with 3:02 left in the first quarter.

De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell have 6 points apiece to lead the Spurs, while Victor Wembanyama has 3 points, 2 boards, 2 dimes and one block.

MAY 22, 2026 / 8:42 ET

Spurs bring the heat early

San Antonio scores the first 10 points of the game to grab a 10-0 lead with 10:10 remaining in the opening quarter on NBC/Peacock! The Thunder take a quick timeout with Frost Bank Center in a frenzy.

MAY 22, 2026 / 8:30 ET

Starting Lineups: Thunder-Spurs, Game 3 WCF

Oklahoma City Thunder:

  • PG – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (28.7 ppg, 7.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.0 bpg)
  • SG – Luguentz Dort (6.5 ppg, 1.7 3PM on 36.2 3P%)
  • SF – Ajay Mitchell (16.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.7 spg)
  • PF – Chet Holmgren (17.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.2 spg, 1.6 bpg)
  • C – Isaiah Hartenstein (9.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.1 spg)

With no Jalen Williams (hamstring) tonight, Ajay Mitchell will slide back into OKC’s starting unit, a role he’s played brilliantly throughout the postseason in just his second season.

Alex Caruso, who dropped 31 points and 8 3-pointers in Game 1, Jared McCain, and Cason Wallace, fresh off being named a Kia NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection, should absorb most of the minutes vacated by ‘J-Dub’.

San Antonio Spurs:

  • PG – De’Aaron Fox (18.8 ppg, 5.8 apg, 1.1 spg)
  • SG – Stephon Castle (20.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 6.6 apg)
  • SF – Devin Vassell (13.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.2 spg, 0.9 bpg)
  • PF – Julian Champagnie (10.7 ppg, 2.5 3PM, 5.8 rpg, 1.4 spg)
  • C – Victor Wembanyama (22.1 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 2.8 apg, 4.0 bpg)

Rookie sensation Dylan Harper (14.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.5 spg) will suit up after sustaining an adductor injury that forced him out of Game 2’s loss on Wednesday. Harper’s size and athleticism have been on full display throughout the postseason, and he’ll bring a dynamic spark off the Spurs’ bench.

Getting Fox back at the lead guard position should help stabilize a Spurs offense that’s turned it over 44 times through two outings.

Keldon Johnson (8.5 ppg, 43.3% on 2.3 3PA) and rookie Carter Bryant (2.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg) keep the energy and defensive tenacity alongside Harper in the second unit.

MAY 22, 2026 / 8:15 ET

Fox on the loose

De’Aaron Fox will make his Western Conference Finals debut after missing the first two games with an ankle injury. Fox is averaging 18.8 points, 5.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game on 46.2 / 34.6 / 73.3 shooting splits in 11 playoff appearances this season.

MAY 22, 2026 / 7:51 ET

Bam crowned NBA Social Justice Champion

Congratulations to Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat for being named the 2025-26 NBA Social Justice Champion!

MAY 22, 2026 / 7:47 ET

Kia NBA All-Defensive Teams announced

Congratulations to the 2025-26 Kia NBA All-Defensive First Team!

Congratulations to the 2025-26 Kia NBA All-Defensive Second Team!

A closer look at the voting results:

MAY 22, 2026 / 7:54 ET

Tonight’s injury report

OKC @ SAS — Jalen Williams (hamstring) is out for the Thunder.

De’Aaron Fox (ankle) and Dylan Harper (adductor) are both available to play for the Spurs. Fox will be making his debut in the Western Conference Finals.

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