WCF G6: Spurs ravage Thunder to send Western Conference Finals the distance

(Photo: San Antonio Spurs/Twitter)

There will be a winner-take-all game seven in the 2026 Western Conference Finals after the San Antonio Spurs, facing elimination, smashed the Oklahoma City Thunder 118–91 in game six Thursday night.

After a dejecting loss in game five on Tuesday night, the Spurs produced their most energised performance of the series, leading by as much as 28 points, and never trailing.

Almost naturally, it was Victor Wembanyama who led the San Antonio resistance, scoring a game-high 28 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks in an efficient 28 minutes.

20-year-old Dylan Harper was nothing short of mature beyond his years, coming off the bench to put up 18 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in a fascinating performance.

Stephon Castle was effective in his control of the Spurs’ offence, recording 17 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists and a steal.

The Thunder failed to capitalise on a golden close-out opportunity, largely thanks to poor shooting. Oklahoma City shot 35–94 from the field, 37 per cent, and 25 per cent from three.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was still the team-high scorer for the Thunder, despite a measly 15 points on 6–18 shooting.

The Spurs were dominant from the outset, taking the lead on the first possession, and never looking back.

Victor Wembanyama was out for blood, the only player to score in double-digits in the first quarter, with 11 points and 5 rebounds in 8 minutes.

“[Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson] said [Victor Wembanyama] is a guy who wants the moment, he wants to be at the centre stage in the biggest moment. He and the group have shown the response in big moments, and they hope to do it again,” reported NBA on NBC sideline reporter Ashley ShahAhmadi.

Every Spur was electric from the opening tip, Devin Vassell scoring 6 points, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson all putting up 5 points in the first.

It’s not that the Thunder were necessarily under-performing: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Hartenstein both had 6 points in the first quarter, Lu Dort had 5.

The reality was, nothing much could stop San Antonio, as the Spurs took a 35–22 lead into the first break.

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The Thunder put up their best fight in the second quarter, winning the period 31–25.

Cason Wallace was a spark plug off the Oklahoma City bench, scoring 11 points in 11 minutes.

Jared McCain and Alex Caruso both had 5 points, Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each had 4.

The Spurs’ offence was much more pointed in the second, Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper combining for 18 of San Antonio’s 25 second-quarter points. No other Spur scored more than one field goal.

The Thunder cut into the San Antonio lead, but nothing too worrying. The Spurs took a 60–53 lead into half-time.

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Out of the half-time break, the Spurs produced a masterpiece in the third quarter.

The Thunder were scoreless for eight minutes in the third as San Antonio ran off 22 straight points to make it 92–64 in the dying minutes.

“I just think all of our focus and attention was on the defensive end,” said Spurs guard Stephon Castle.

“I don’t think scoring against [the Thunder] has been a problem for us. I think just our self-inflicted mistakes, like turnovers and allowing them to get offensive rebounds and easy buckets is what slows us down.”

Only three Oklahoma City players scored in the third, as four Spurs scored 5 or more points. Stephon Castle and Julian Champagnie each had a game-high 7 third-quarter points.

San Antonio won the third quarter a staggering 32–13, taking a 92–66 lead into the fourth.

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As has been custom in several games of this series, the fourth quarter was largely garbage time, with several role-players playing all 12 minutes in the final period.

Jared McCain had a game-high 8 fourth-quarter points for the Thunder, Harrison Barnes and Kelly Olynyk each had a team-high 6 for the Spurs.

The Western Conference Finals are tied 3–3.

This game wasn’t flattering, it wasn’t dramatic. It was hardly deserving of detailed reporting. What it absolutely was, was a clinical performance from a San Antonio team that required nothing less.

The Spurs sucked the wind out of an Oklahoma City team that surely thought they were cruising back to the NBA Finals.

“[Playing with desperation] just feels like it erases kind of all the little mistakes that we do that are human nature, whether it’s in the regular season or previous games,” said Victor Wembanyama post-game.

“Just got to fight that all the time and put your backs against the wall. It feels like it’s the best opportunity to be able to play.”

Whatever way you cut it, whether you’re a Spurs or Thunder diehard, or you’re a neutral party simply taking in the spectacle, this series deserved to go all the way.

In what was one of the most anticipated playoff series in years, there hasn’t been a great deal of drama. What this series has done, though, is leave us guessing.

In what should be one of the most consequential games of NBA basketball played in recent memory, game seven is Saturday night in Oklahoma City.