The Oklahoma City Thunder walked into Frost Bank Center on Friday night, took San Antonio’s best early punch, then walked out with the series lead. OKC beat the Spurs 123–108 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, powered by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 26 points and 12 assists. Rookie spark plug Jared McCain poured in 24 off the bench, and Chet Holmgren added 14. Victor Wembanyama matched Gilgeous-Alexander with 26 for San Antonio, but the Spurs could never quite reel the Thunder back in late.
How OKC clawed back
The Spurs came out swinging with a 15–0 run that had the home crowd smelling a blowout. The Thunder responded by tightening up on both ends, then flipped the script with a 32–20 second quarter that steadied the game and set the stage for a dominant third. Oklahoma City’s ball movement and shot selection sharpened as the night went on, a turnaround reflected in the box score and game summary from CBS Sports.
Wembanyama kept the Spurs competitive
Wembanyama’s 26 and Devin Vassell’s 20 helped keep San Antonio within striking distance at several points, with the Spurs threatening to make real noise each time they strung together a few stops. But missed chances and second-half foul trouble stalled those pushes, letting Oklahoma City slip away again. Those momentum swings were exactly what opened the door for the Thunder to take control of Game 3, according to KOCO.
Depth made the difference
McCain’s 24-point eruption off the bench gave OKC serious scoring insurance whenever the starters cooled, and Holmgren’s work inside helped keep the Spurs from owning the paint. The Thunder shot 39-of-81 from the field (48.1 percent) and drilled 17-of-38 from beyond the arc, numbers that repeatedly snuffed out San Antonio rallies, according to CBS Sports.
What’s next
Game 4 is set for Sunday, May 24, back at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, with coverage on NBC/Peacock. A Thunder win would push OKC ahead 3–1; a Spurs victory would knot the series at 2–2 and reset the whole thing. Both teams are bracing for adjustments and more physical play after a rugged Game 3, as the matchup heads into a pivotal stretch, KOCO reports.
