SAN ANTONIO — The Thunder has taken control of the Western Conference finals.
After a double-overtime loss in the series opener, Oklahoma City has found answers not only for Victor Wembanyama but also for the Spurs. So it was again in Game 3 on Friday night at Frost Bank Center.
Thunder 123, Spurs 108.
Let’s get to the grades.
Order book on the Thunder’s road to NBA title
We’ve come to expect great things off the bench from Alex Caruso, but in these playoffs, Jaylin Williams has been largely silent.
Not Friday.
He scored 18 points, grabbed five rebounds and added two steals.
All of his baskets came from behind the 3-point line. He hit 4 of 5 in the first half, and even though he only hit one in the second half, it came midway through the fourth quarter when the Spurs were trying to rally. He was fouled on the shot and made the ensuing free throw for a big four-point play.
In the Thunder’s first 10 playoff games this postseason, Williams scored a combined total of 35 points. Sixteen in the first-round series against Phoenix. Thirteen in the conference semifinals against Los Angeles. And six in the first two games against San Antonio.
What’s more, when Williams was on the court, there wasn’t an uptick in production from the Spurs big men. He played solid defense, whether on Wembanyama or Luke Kornet. Williams even drew a charge on Wemby at one point.
Big-time stuff.
— Jenni Carlson, columnist
The Thunder started slow in part because Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did the same. He didn’t score in the first quarter.
But SGA didn’t press. He finished 6 of 17 from the field, doing most of his damage from the free-throw line (12 of 12) in a 26-point night.
His individual inefficiency was offset by all of the plays he created for his teammates. His 12 assists tripled the total of the Thunder’s next-highest assist man. SGA only committed two turnovers.
He was the only Thunder starter with a positive plus/minus.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
Keeping Victor Wembanyama away from the rim: A+
Wembanyama didn’t score his first two-point basket until the 2:08 mark of the third quarter.
This is a guy who can dunk without jumping.
The Thunder did an excellent job of building a wall between Wembanyama and the rim.
His first two-point basket was a big one. An and-one over Chet Holmgren, resulting in Holmgren’s fourth foul. It didn’t end up mattering, though.
Wembanyama finished 6 of 10 from inside the arc. The Thunder will take that kind of low volume.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
Playoff atmosphere: A
Chants of “flop-per, flop-per, flop-per” echoed throughout Frost Bank Center midway through the third quarter as Gilgeous-Alexander stood at the foul line.
“Free-throw merchant,” was the chant du jour last season for Thunder foes, but the world evolves.
The Spurs fans, in their signature fiesta shirts, were spectacular Friday night.
Not all of their chants were negative, mind you. They chanted Dylan Harper’s name and serenaded Wembanyama with “MVP, MVP, MVP.”
A mini skirmish ensued after Ajay Mitchell fouled an airborne Stephon Castle early in the third quarter. Mitchell was called for a Flagrant 1, and he and Devin Vassell were whistled for offsetting technicals for some extracurricular shoving.
This series has been the height of playoff basketball.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
Available ballhandlers: B+
The number of proven trustworthy ballhandlers continues to dwindle for the Thunder.
No Jalen Williams at all, ruled out of Game 3 after reaggravating a left hamstring strain.
No Mitchell for much of the second half after he came up limping and went to the locker room in the third quarter.
The good news for the Thunder is that Caruso and Jared McCain showed themselves capable. Both ended up handling the ball more than normal, especially after halftime, but each only had one turnover.
Cason Wallace also handled the ball more and had no turnovers.
In total, the Thunder only turned the ball over 10 times.
— Jenni Carlson, columnist
Much like Game 2, the Thunder big man had a flurry of late rebounds again in Game 3.
He had two in the first minute or so of the fourth quarter. Both were defensive rebounds as the Thunder went on a mini 5-1 run to start the frame extend its lead to 15 points.
Then Hartenstein snagged another big defensive rebound with three minutes remaining when the Spurs had pulled back within 11 points. Make a bucket, get the Thunder lead to single digits and the Frost Bank Center crowd would’ve ramped up. But Hartenstein speared an errant 3-pointer, getting inside position on Wembanyama and not giving the Spurs a chance at a second-chance bucket.
Late in games when some guys look tired, Hartenstein has surged.
— Jenni Carlson, columnist
De’Aaron Fox missed Games 1 and 2 with a right ankle sprain that Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Fox would be dealing with for the rest of the postseason.
Fox gave it a go in Game 3, though. He was zipping around like his usual self, giving the Spurs’ backcourt a jolt.
But then Fox re-injured his ankle in the third quarter and was unable to even cross half court. He hobbled to the bench. He looked done for the game. Done for the series, maybe.
I did a double take when he reentered in the fourth quarter. Huge props to Fox for playing in the first place. And even more so for coming back after he was in serious pain.
Fox finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
Arena striping: A+
The Paycom Center crowd is top notch in every way, but if it wants to go to the next level, the Thunder should take a page from the Spurs’ T-shirt striping. The Frost Center sections were divided by teal, pink and yellow, a nod to the fiesta spirit. It is a fantastic look.
Why can’t the Thunder do blue, orange and gold?
Those three colors are on the Oklahoma City jersey. Striping the arena in those three colors would be amazing.
— Jenni Carlson, columnist
Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at [email protected]. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
