In Game 7 of the Western Conference Final, the Thunder and Spurs delivered some of the greatest sports television I’ve ever witnessed. Both teams produced scoring runs, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander exploded with points in the second half, and turnovers added to the drama. What an incredible game!
As sports fans, we always seek the most exciting games and frequently argue over which matchups entertain us the most. Last Saturday in Oklahoma City, both teams delivered phenomenal entertainment.
The Spurs showed amazing team chemistry throughout the first quarter. Even when OKC took a slim lead in the second half, the Spurs kept attacking and ultimately claimed victory.
Stephon Castle hounded the Thunder on defense and scored consistently. Dylan Harper made crucial shots. Julian Champagnie hit 60% from three-point range. Victor Wembanyama hit clutch shots and demoralized Chet Holmgren defensively (Holmgren attempted only two shots and scored four points).
SGA scored 35, but the rest of his team struggled, except for Cason Wallace, who contributed 17 points. OKC’s starters failed to perform. San Antonio’s five starters each scored over 10 points, and two bench players scored over 10 points as well. Three Thunder bench players reached double digits, but their secondary scorers faltered.
OKC’s players turned the ball over six times in the first quarter, putting themselves in a hole early. The Thunder had 36 minutes on the clock to bounce back, but they failed. They battled hard throughout the series, but the Spurs outperformed them on Saturday.
After the final buzzer, I noticed how the Spurs’ players reacted. Usually, triumphant players face the crowd, scream, and, if they play as the away team (as they did this night), sometimes taunt the home crowd. The Spurs chose not to do that.
After the buzzer, Victor Wembanyama wrapped his massive arms around all his co-stars and wept. He and his teammates hugged, jumped up and down, laughed, and smiled. The reactions from each player revealed how much the moment meant to them. Wenby hugged everyone countless times, including stars like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, as well as bench players like Kelly Olynyk.
Well, that was then, albeit a huge step on the road to the NBA Championship. Tonight, the Spurs face the biggest test yet, playing the NY Knicks for all the marbles. Game 1 tipoff in San Antonio is scheduled for 8:30 PM Eastern on ABC-TV.
