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Recap: Thunder secure 2-1 series lead in West Finals
The Oklahoma City Thunder set a franchise record in their convincing 123-108 win in Game 3 over the hosting San Antonio Spurs.
NBA Daily Digest: Thunder Bench Erupts for 76 Points in Game 3 Win, Knicks-Cavs Game 3 Tips Tonight
Oklahoma City's bench scored a Conference Finals-record 76 points to overcome a 15-point deficit and beat San Antonio 123-108, taking a 2-1 WCF lead. Tonight: WCF Game 4 at San Antonio and ECF Game 3 (Knicks at Cavaliers, who are down 2-0) both tip at 8 PM ET. Plus the Kawhi-vs-Giannis offseason framing taking shape.
The defending champions needed their depth to bail them out — and it delivered a franchise-record performance. Oklahoma City erased a 15-point first-quarter deficit in San Antonio to take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals. Out East, the Knicks carry a 2-0 series edge into Cleveland tonight with a chance to put the Cavaliers on the brink.
WCF Game 3: Thunder 123, Spurs 108 — OKC Leads 2-1
The San Antonio crowd had every reason to believe. The Spurs opened Game 3 with a 15-0 run — the longest scoring burst to open a Conference Finals or NBA Finals game since tracking began in 1997-98 — and their home fans were loud from the opening tip. 1
Oklahoma City's response was to go to the bench — and the bench did the rest.
The Thunder's reserves outscored San Antonio's 76-23, the highest single-game bench total in Conference Finals or NBA Finals history since 1971. 2 Four OKC reserves finished in double figures for the second consecutive game — an unprecedented showing given that Jalen Williams (wing, Thunder) sat out again with left hamstring tightness.
Jared McCain (guard, Thunder) led the comeback with a playoff career-high 24 points off the bench, going 10-for-21 from the field. He was a +28 on the night and finished with one of the game's more striking splits: only 2-of-10 from three, but 16 points on drives and mid-range looks. He's now been one of OKC's best players across Games 2 and 3, arriving via trade from Philadelphia at the February deadline with no postseason experience. 2
Jaylin Williams (forward, Thunder) — not to be confused with the injured Jalen Williams — added 18 points on 5-of-7 from three, including four triples in the first half as OKC clawed back. Alex Caruso (guard, Thunder) put in 15 points with a +28 rating and two blocks. Cason Wallace (guard, Thunder) contributed 11 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals, capping the third quarter with a three that pushed the lead to 13.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (guard, Thunder) finished with 26 points, 12 assists, and a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line. He was efficient without being explosive, content to orchestrate while the bench units did the heavier lifting. 2
Victor Wembanyama (center, Spurs) had 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting with four rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. It was a quality individual line, but San Antonio's supporting cast couldn't sustain the early advantage. The Spurs' bench had no answer once OKC's second unit locked in defensively.
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| WCF Series | W-L | Game 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 2-1 | Tonight at San Antonio, 8 PM ET, NBC/Peacock |
| San Antonio Spurs | 1-2 | — |
Injury note: Jalen Williams (left hamstring) remains out and his status for Game 4 is unresolved heading into Sunday. 3 For the Spurs, De'Aaron Fox (guard) and Dylan Harper (guard) both played in Game 3 after clearing injury concerns — Fox returning from a high right ankle sprain that kept him out of Games 1 and 2, Harper recovering from an adductor strain suffered in Game 2.
ECF Preview: Knicks at Cavaliers, Game 3 — Tonight at 8 PM ET on ABC
The Eastern Conference Finals head to Cleveland tonight, with the Knicks looking to become the first team in this series to win on the road and go up 3-0.
New York is 4-1 on the road this postseason. Jalen Brunson (guard, Knicks) has been the series' best player — 38 points in the Game 1 overtime comeback, 19 points and 14 assists in the Game 2 blowout. Josh Hart (forward, Knicks) has been the wildcard, drilling five threes in Game 2 to seal it. 4
Cleveland's backs are against the wall at home. Donovan Mitchell (guard, Cavaliers) scored 29 and 26 in the first two games but has had little help — the Cavs shot 14 free throws in Game 2 while the Knicks shot 32, and Cleveland's big men haven't asserted themselves on the glass. The Cavaliers have been the better team in stretches — they led Game 1 by 22 before the collapse — but haven't been able to put together four consistent quarters.
The Knicks enter the game with 10 consecutive postseason wins. No team has come back from 3-0 in NBA playoff history. 5
| ECF Series | W-L | Game 3 |
|---|---|---|
| New York Knicks | 2-0 | Tonight at Cleveland, 8 PM ET, ABC |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 0-2 | — |
Injury Report
A quick scan across both Conference Finals:
- Jalen Williams (wing, OKC) — OUT, left hamstring tightness. Missed seven of the last eight postseason games. Timeline unclear.
- De'Aaron Fox (guard, SA) — Played Game 3 after missing Games 1-2 with a high right ankle sprain.
- Dylan Harper (guard, SA) — Played Game 3 after exiting Game 2 with an adductor strain; cleared.
- Donovan Mitchell (guard, CLE) — Playing; being monitored for workload.
Offseason Radar: Kawhi and Giannis, Side by Side
Even as the playoffs continue, front offices around the league are already positioning for the summer. According to Bleacher Report, multiple NBA executives now consider Kawhi Leonard (forward, LA Clippers) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (forward, Milwaukee Bucks) as roughly equal trade/free-agency targets — a framing that may shift expectations about which team lands which star. 6
Leonard, 34, posted one of his best statistical seasons this year — 27.9 points per game on 50.5% shooting over 65 games, his most appearances in a season since 2017-18. The Clippers went 42-20 in games he played but failed to make the playoffs after losing the play-in to Golden State. The Clippers' front office has not indicated he's available, but his contract enters its final year (at $50.3 million for 2026-27) and there's no extension signed.
Giannis, 31, carries a fully guaranteed 2026-27 salary of $58.5 million and a player option for 2027-28. Milwaukee ownership has set a June 23 deadline to clarify his future. His availability isn't confirmed, but multiple potential trade packages — including a reported three-team scenario involving the Celtics — have already been floated publicly.
Both players have significant injury histories. Leonard has the longer track record of absences; Giannis played just 36 games this season with a string of lower-body issues. The calculus isn't straightforward for any acquiring team.
No deal has been reported.
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Tonight's Schedule
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| WCF Game 4: OKC Thunder at San Antonio Spurs | 8:00 PM | NBC / Peacock |
| ECF Game 3: NY Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers | 8:00 PM | ABC |
Both games tonight. WCF and ECF overlap, so fans picking one series will have to follow the other on box score updates.
References
- 1Thunder get 76 points off bench in Game 3 win vs. Spurs
- 2SGA Outduels Wemby, Final Box Score Stats, Highlights
- 3De'Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper cleared for Game 3, Jalen Williams ruled out
- 42026 NBA Playoffs Schedule and Results
- 5ECF Schedule — NBA.com
- 6New Kawhi, Giannis Trade Rumors Reveal How NBA Execs View Upcoming Bidding War
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