NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
The Oklahoma City Thunder entered Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals without having lost a single NBA Playoff game since Game 6 of the NBA Finals last year.
But they had yet to face Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, and the 7-foot-4 big man finished with a remarkable stat line — 41 points, 24 rebounds, three blocks and 12 made free throws — in a thrilling double-overtime win, 122-115, over the Thunder to set the tone for this series. FOX Sports posted Wembanyama with 41 points and 24 rebounds, and the final score of the period confirmed the result of 122-115 in double overtime.
Like two heavyweights in the final round of a boxing match, the Haymakers were thrown left and right by the Spurs and Thunder, and Wembanyama played a big role late in the fourth quarter when he nailed a turnaround three-pointer with 11.5 seconds left to give San Antonio a 101-99 lead.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on May 18, 2026. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named the league’s Most Valuable Player before the series began, stood out on the opposite side. With 3.1 seconds left in the game, his sprint to the basket ended with a game-tying layup to force overtime.
The Spurs took a four-point lead into overtime, but Alex Caruso, who came off the bench and led the Thunder with 31 points, knocked down his eighth three of the first game to cut the lead to one for San Antonio.
STEPHEN SMITH FAST AT JAYLEN BROWN AFTER CELTICS STAR CALLED HIM THE ‘FACE OF THE CLICKBAIT MEDIA’
The Thunder rode that momentum, as Jalen Williams had a dunk to take a 106-105 lead, and Gilgeous-Alexander added to it with a dunk of his own. “Wemby,” however, was the focus of San Antonio’s response late Monday night, and perhaps his most important bucket was a shot from well beyond the arc.
Wembanyama took the ball from Stephon Castle and added to the guard’s assist total with a 27-foot three near the Oklahoma City logo to tie the game at 108 apiece with 27 seconds left. The Thunder bench couldn’t believe it, while the Spurs reserves exploded in this back and forth.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs dunks against Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on May 18, 2026. (Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)
Williams failed to make a three-pointer at the other end, and despite great play, Caruso knocked down Dylan Harper’s attempt on Castle with just 0.7 seconds left in overtime to keep the score where it was.
Needing another extra period, Wembanyama took charge of the match. He scored nine points in double overtime, as the Spurs tightened up defensively, with Wembanyama and Devin Vassell ultimately making key blocks.
Castle finished with 11 assists to lead the Spurs in that category, while rookie guard Dylan Harper made vital contributions with 24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and a game-high seven steals in the victory. The Spurs were doing all of this without veteran guard De’Aaron Fox, who they hope will be back for Game 2.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket against Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on May 18, 2026. (Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
Williams had 26 points for Oklahoma City, while Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 24 points on 7-of-23 shooting with 12 assists and five steals.
It’s been a dominant run for the Thunder so far, but if this first game is any indication of how this series will play out, the Western Conference Finals could have a long and dramatic series ahead.
