Category: Sport

Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs face a must-win tonight to force Game 7.

Welcome to the live blog! OKC looks to reach the Finals for the second consecutive season, while the Spurs try to force a Game 7 as the riveting Western Conference Finals is set for Game 6 in San Antonio (8:30 ET, NBA/Peacock). Stay updated with the latest news and action from Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals. 

What we know about Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals

• The Thunder lead the series 3-2 and are one win away from reaching the Finals for the second consecutive season 
• OKC could be the first team to reach the Finals in back-to-back seasons since the Warriors (2015-19)
• This is the first time the Spurs will face elimination in these Playoffs
• The Spurs defeated the Thunder in four out of five games this regular season, including the NBA Cup semifinals

2:37 PM / MAY 28

The Wemby factor

The Spurs will need an aggressive Wemby if they want to keep their season alive and force a Game 7:

• In 2 wins: 37.0 PPG, 16.0 RPG, 23.5 FGA, 53.2 FG%
• In 3 losses: 22.3 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 15.3 FGA, 43.5 FG%

1:18 PM / MAY 28

West Finals parity

Entering tonight, the Thunder own a nine-point edge (569-560) over the Spurs, the slimmest margin through five games of a West Finals since Lakers vs. Nuggets in 2009.

OKC SEEKS BACK-TO-BACK NBA FINALS 🍿

SGA (32 PTS, 9 AST in Game 5) and the Thunder protected home court to take a 3-2 WCF lead. Tonight, they look to become the first team to reach back-to-back NBA Finals since the Warriors in 2019… while Wemby and the Spurs look to keep their… pic.twitter.com/UXgZZaZEvO

— NBA (@NBA) May 28, 2026

Jeff Van Gundy coached the Knicks to the 1999 NBA Finals, New York’s last trip to the Finals before this year.

Editor’s Note: Read more NBA coverage from The Athletic here. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its teams. 

***

Jeff Van Gundy still recalls one unmistakable sound from the Knicks’ last journey to the NBA Finals. Twenty-seven years later, he can hear the Madison Square Garden crowd chanting his name, and he can feel the goosebumps and the emotion that made his hand holding that Diet Coke tremble near the home bench.

Garden president Dave Checketts had admitted he was courting Phil Jackson to become the Knicks’ next coach, and the fans were not feeling it. So in the closing minutes of a second-round sweep of the Atlanta Hawks, they chanted, Jeff Van Gun-dee … Jeff Van Gun-dee, just as they would when the Knicks eliminated the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals.

“People always said New York is only a place to coach if you’re a star or celebrity, and from the first day in New York, I never felt that,” Van Gundy said. “I felt they were more attracted to the common man with a common upbringing, and I think that chant was really a nice recognition for someone trying to do his job.

“Very few things I remember without having my memory jogged from that part of my life, because the games and seasons run together. But that chant is something I will never forget. I don’t think the people there that night understood what that meant to my family and me.”

Van Gundy, 64, covered 15 NBA Finals as a broadcaster for ESPN and is now an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers. He is reportedly a candidate for open head-coaching positions with the Orlando Magic and Portland Trail Blazers. But on a certain level, Van Gundy will always be a Knicks lifer who regrets resigning from the team a quarter century ago and who was interested in his old job when David Fizdale and Tom Thibodeau were hired instead.

Of course, Van Gundy has watched the Knicks’ staggering run to their first finals appearance since 1999, punctuated by their sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers and their 11th consecutive playoff win. Of course, he has strong feelings about what he has seen from Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns & Co.

“To win that many in a row in dominant fashion, to me, the Knicks are the favorite now to win it all,” Van Gundy said. “They are playing that good, they’re healthy and everything is going great for them.

“You can say, well, Atlanta this and Philly and Cleveland that, but when you win road playoff games by 50, and you’re kicking ass and taking names, anybody who tries to diminish that is wrong. This is the greatest playoff run in Knicks history. They still have to win it, but there’s never been a Knicks team this dominant. They are just waylaying people.”

Van Gundy doesn’t want to discuss the coaching component of what’s unfolded here because Thibodeau was his trusted assistant in New York and remains a close friend. Thibs didn’t deserve to be fired after making the Knicks relevant again, including leading them last year to their first conference finals appearance since 2000.

But as it turned out, owner James Dolan and team president Leon Rose found a more flexible and collaborative option in Mike Brown, who has done tremendous work in taking the Knicks, as they say, to the next level.

Like every veteran coach, Van Gundy has his own haunting set of what-ifs. He was an assistant on Pat Riley’s top-seeded, 60-win Knicks team in 1993 that had a 2-0 conference finals lead over Michael Jordan’s Bulls before losing it. Van Gundy was back again with Riley the following year, when they were one victory away from the franchise’s first championship since 1973, and couldn’t close out the Houston Rockets.

Van Gundy’s own 57-win team in 1997 — “a great team, not a good team,” he said — was KO’d in the conference semis by the league’s absurd suspensions of five Knicks, including Patrick Ewing and three others for leaving the bench in a Game 5 brawl with the Miami Heat. In 2000, with the conference finals series even, Van Gundy’s team blew an early 18-point lead over Indiana in Game 5 and couldn’t recover.

But 1999 — following a lockout-shortened 50-game season — was the most memorable of Van Gundy’s six straight trips to the playoffs as head coach. After Checketts fired general manager Ernie Grunfeld over dinner, Van Gundy saved himself by (barely) making the playoffs, beating top-seeded Miami on Allan Houston’s shot in the final seconds of Game 5, and then sweeping Atlanta while the Jackson drama raged around him.

“Hey Phil, we already have a coach,” read one sign in the Garden. Yes, Van Gundy saw it.

The Indiana series has been the highlight of his career. On the same day that the Mets were facing the Yankees and Charismatic was going for the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes, Larry Johnson’s epic four-point play in the final seconds to win Game 3 was the ultimate New York story, and a sign that the Knicks might yet win it all after Ewing tore his Achilles in Game 2.

Allan Houston sent the Knicks to the finals by dominating nemesis Reggie Miller in Game 6, scoring 32 points on 12-of-17 shooting to Miller’s 8 points on 3-of-18 shooting. Houston calmed himself all night by thinking of his expecting wife and the blessings of fatherhood.

At the horn, as the leader of the first eighth seed to advance to the finals, Van Gundy walked onto the floor, pumping his fists and shouting, “Yes! Yes!” He crossed midcourt and wrapped Houston in a bear hug.

“That was my Jimmy Valvano moment,” Van Gundy said later.

Among the Knicks celebrating on the court was a reserve guard named Rick Brunson, whose two-year-old son Jalen was somewhere in the arena.

The Knicks met the San Antonio Spurs in the finals as clear underdogs. Ewing was out, Johnson was hindered by a knee sprain suffered in Game 6 against Indiana, and the Spurs were in the first hours of a championship program anchored by Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Gregg Popovich.

“The Spurs were the best team the whole season,” Van Gundy said. “They were dominant. We would’ve been more competitive if we had Patrick, but the outcome would’ve remained the same.”

The Spurs won 12 straight playoff games that year, including the first two against New York. As the season started collapsing around the Knicks, the Garden shot clocks malfunctioned in Game 5, forcing the use of old-school clocks on the floor.

San Antonio’s Avery Johnson made a late corner jumper that the Knicks never answered, and that was that in the Spurs’ 78-77 clincher. Duncan finished with 31 points and nine rebounds in winning his first of five titles. Latrell Sprewell had 35 points and 10 rebounds, but the Knicks were held between 67 and 77 points for the third time in the series.

All these years later, maybe a Spurs-Knicks sequel is in the cards. Maybe not. Either way, from a distance, Van Gundy will enjoy the camera shots of the Knicks alums in the stands. His guys.

Ewing. Houston. Johnson. Sprewell. John Starks. Kurt Thomas.

“I love seeing them happy and seeing them together again,” Van Gundy said. “When I see the Knicks now, I don’t think about the games in the ’90s as much as I do the people who made it possible.”

The players. The coaches. And the fans who chanted his name the last time the Knicks played for the heavyweight championship of their sport.

***

Ian O’Connor Ian O’Connor is a columnist for The Athletic. He is the author of six straight New York Times bestsellers. O’Connor was a columnist at various major outlets who earned multiple first-place finishes in contests run by the Society of Professional Journalists, Associated Press Sports Editors, Pro Football Writers of America, and Golf Writers Association of America. He is a proud former copy boy at The New York Times. You can follow Ian on X @Ian_OConnor.

Chet Holmgren needs to get a better hold of his matchup against Victor Wembanyama for the Thunder to win the West finals.

Editor’s Note: Read more NBA coverage from The Athletic here. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its teams. 

***

SAN ANTONIO — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tends to think for a beat before answering. It takes a moment to conjure how to be simultaneously thoughtful, calculated, transparent and mysterious.

But when asked about how to get Chet Holmgren going, after the San Antonio Spurs’ Game 4 win Sunday to even the series, SGA’s pre-answer processing lasted noticeably longer. The silence between “ums” banged like an indicting gavel. He rubbed his chin and squinted his eyes while rummaging his mind for the words.

It took 14 seconds for Gilgeous-Alexander to find his answer for increasing Holmgren’s involvement on offense.

“I mean, Chet’s an easy target to find,” the two-time MVP said eventually. “So, probably just, like, finding him more in the dunker (spot), and when he’s spacing. Just put him in better positions to use his strengths as an offensive talent. Um, I don’t know exactly what that looks like because I just got done playing. But watching film, we’ll find ways for sure.”

See, that wasn’t so hard.

Except that wasn’t the answer. And SGA knows it wasn’t.

That’s not to put words in his mouth he never uttered, but instead to acknowledge SGA’s genius as it pertains to hoop. As we were made acutely aware, he knows what a pro needs. Putting Holmgren in particular spots on the floor won’t magically solve his struggles. Positioning certainly doesn’t explain why Holmgren’s averaging 11.3 points on 46.9 percent shooting in this series — which is a 6-point drop in scoring and a near 10 percent drop in field goal percentage from his regular-season averages. His current production looks even worse compared with the last series against the Los Angeles Lakers, when he averaged 20 points on 60.8 percent shooting.

The biggest reason did not make SGA’s answer.

The Thunder players won’t talk about this candidly. For one, they’re not the kind of team to publicly call out each other. Their brotherhood was fashioned differently. But also because what’s understood doesn’t need to be explained. And everyone understands what’s happening.

Victor Wembanyama is owning Chet Holmgren.

Holmgren shouldn’t be shamed for being outplayed by Wembanyama. No glory gets lost in being bested by a player so unique and transcendent that Spurs fans show up to games dressed like extras in “Mars Attacks.”

But in a battle of slender big men, in this era where post presence is increasingly measured by length as much as girth, Holmgren is disappearing behind Wembanyama. The absence of Jalen Williams — and the loss of Ajay Mitchell for Game 4 — highlights that reality for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In neon.

The Thunder’s problem: Holmgren hasn’t quite made it a battle, not one worthy of a showdown between All-NBA players.

But with the Western Conference finals now a best-of-three series, and the Thunder reclaiming home-court advantage, Holmgren can still leave his imprint. The Thunder needs him to make it a battle against Wemby.

Holmgren topped out at 14 points in Game 3. In OKC’s two losses, he totaled 18 points on 5-of-15 shooting. He’s being outscored in this series by Alex Caruso and Jared McCain. Holmgren’s taken just four more shots than Cason Wallace. Backup big Jaylin Williams made nearly as many 3s (eight) as Holmgren has taken (nine). Holmgren leads the Thunder in paint touches in this series but ranks eighth in points per paint touch.

Holmgren made third-team All-NBA because he’s critical to Oklahoma City’s two-way potency. We know he’s got it in him.

Time to fight back, Chet. Simple as that.

“I think no matter what I do out there,” Holmgren said after Game 4, “I always expect more out of myself, expect better. I can see a lot of opportunities in the game where I have to be better and take advantage of, and I’m gonna do everything I can to do that.”

Often, these head-up comparisons are oversimplifications. Strengths, positions and schemes render them but virtual squabbles — such as how this series pits MVP finalists Wemby and SGA against each other. It’s really a measurement of who is better at dominating because these two don’t face off enough to make an earnest clash.

But Wembanyama and Holmgren? They play in the front court and could play the same position for significant stretches of the game. They also have history, a rivalry that dates to their teenage FIBA battles as touted talents. Even more importantly, Wembanyama makes it a thing with his blatant competitive aggressiveness toward Holmgren.

It seemed Holmgren entered Game 4 ready to match that energy. Not even 90 seconds into the game, he reacted instinctively with a 45 cut on a Wallace drive. Wallace, driving into Wembanyama, made the dish to his slashing 7-footer. Wembanyama rotated, and, in a blink, the game delivered a moment between them.

To his credit, Holmgren didn’t back down. He did what he was supposed to do: try to put Wembanyama in the rim. Holmgren took off outside the restricted area with two hands and tried to dunk over the freshly minted Defensive Player of the Year.

But Wemby knew exactly who was trying to put him on a poster. He hasn’t missed a moment to dance with Holmgren — whether he’s isolated on Holmgren at the top or challenging Holmgren’s attacks on the rim.

Wembanyama blocked the dunk, falling back onto the hardwood. While he was down, he raised his right fist in the air.

But the key for Oklahoma City? Holmgren went at him. He can’t stop doing that. Holmgren, according to NBA Courtside, took just five shots with Wembanyama as the defender in the first four games. Conversely, Wembanyama went 4-of-9 against Holmgren in Game 1 — though that’s been reduced to 0-of-3 against Holmgren over the last three games.

He can’t settle for being a complementary player. He can’t be taken out of this series. He’s gotta close the gap between him and Wemby.

This series heads to territories where game plans and familiarity start solving role players. Caruso played well enough to garner conference finals MVP consideration after making 12 of 18 wide-open 3s in the first three games. But in Game 4, he missed the only shot he took in 14 minutes of action. Jared McCain, after dazzling in Game 3, had arguably the worst shooting performance of his young career, missing all five of his 3s while shooting 1 of 10 from the field. But the truth is, they’ve done their part.

Game 5 overflows with pressure. The stakes ratchet up the intensity. These games tend to require a higher level. Stars must shine.

Holmgren is a star. He must, for the sake of the Thunder’s repeat, for the continued construction of the Oklahoma City dynasty, shine like one.

“Chet doesn’t care about anything besides winning, and he’s gonna do what it takes to win,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “That’s his biggest skill … no ego. No agenda. No nothing besides trying to go out there and win. I have no doubt in my mind that Chet will go out there and give the game his all and put (in) his full effort. And that’s all you can ask from guys. Go out there and give it their all and see where it takes.”

Holmgren doesn’t deserve condemnation. This series can’t be considered a referendum of any kind. Rough series happen. Some matchups present real problems. At 23, he might have a few more of these rough ones.

But it doesn’t lessen the Thunder’s need for him now. And it’s not enough to turn up the aggressiveness when Wembanyama sits. That’s only nine minutes per game and likely to decrease as the series progresses.

No, Holmgren must get his with Wembanyama on the court — even if it means doing it against Wembanyama.

That’s what SGA didn’t say during that pregnant pause.

***

Marcus Thompson II is a lead columnist at The Athletic. He is a prominent voice in the Bay Area sports scene after 18 years with Bay Area News Group, including 10 seasons covering the Warriors and four as a columnist. Marcus is also the author of the best-selling biography “GOLDEN: The Miraculous Rise of Steph Curry.” You can follow Marcus on X @Thompsonscribe.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder defeated the Spurs in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals Tuesday night.

The Thunder defeated the Spurs 127-114, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32 pts, 9 ast), who had his highest-scoring game of the series.

The Oklahoma City defense held San Antonio to 40.2% shooting, limiting Victor Wembanyama (20 pts, 6 reb, 2 blk, Playoffs-low -8).

Chet Holmgren (16 pts, 11 reb) and Isaiah Hartenstein (12 pts, 15 reb) both had big games to win the battle in the paint.

What we know about Tuesday’s game:

• In a 2-2 series in the NBA Playoffs, the home team for Game 5 has gone on to advance 73.1% of the time.
• Postgame Presser: Spurs-Thunder
• This series will reconvene Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

MAY 26, 2026 / 11:52 ET

One time for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

SGA DELIVERED IN GAME 5!

⛈️ 32 PTS
⛈️ 9 AST
⛈️ 2 STL

Thunder win Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead in the West Finals 🍿 pic.twitter.com/D0bfspcvGu

— NBA (@NBA) May 27, 2026

MAY 26, 2026 / 11:31 ET

Postgame Presser: Spurs-Thunder

LIVE: Spurs/Thunder Game 5 Postgame Presser

NBA Conference Finals presented by @Google https://t.co/nUQAP6JTwj

— NBA (@NBA) May 27, 2026

MAY 26, 2026 / 11:21 ET

Thunder win 127-114

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32 pts, 9 ast) found his scoring touch and the Thunder role players stepped up to take Game 5 over the San Antonio Spurs, securing a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference Finals.

Chet Holmgren (16 pts, 11 reb) put up a double-double, while OKC earned a 40-33 lead in bench points, led by Alex Caruso (22 pts, 6 ast).

“We’re a group of 1 through 15,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “We definitely got better from last game.”

Stephon Castle (24 pts, 6 ast) was the top scorer for San Antonio, while Victor Wembanyama (20 pts, 6 reb, 3 blk) was largely held in check.

MAY 26, 2026 / 11:10 ET

Spurs empty the bench

Mitch Johnson has put in the reserves — Jordan McLaughlin, Carter Bryant, Kelly Olynyk, Bismack Biyombo, Mason Plumlee — and the Thunder lead 122-108 with 1:40 to go.

The Spurs haven’t been able to assert themselves all night, while the Thunder have found contributors up-and-down the lineup.

“They understood the moment,” Jamal Crawford said of the defending champs.

MAY 26, 2026 / 10:59 ET

McCain madness

Jared McCain (14 pts, 2 3PM) just knocked down a 3-pointer to extend the Thunder lead to 112-99 with 6:11 to go in the game, countering a small rally by the Spurs.

Jared McCain from DEEP 🎯

He’s got 14 PTS in Game 5!

Thunder lead by 13 in Q4 🍿 pic.twitter.com/JpE5sBUdEQ

— NBA (@NBA) May 27, 2026

The Duke product has been eager from the field (14 shots), and got hot in the second half, scoring 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting so far. He’s a threat every time he rises up.

MAY 26, 2026 / 10:51 ET

Thunder extend lead as Spurs scuffle

107-93 OKC with 8:52 to go in the contest.

Both teams are sputtering some, as SGA rests on the bench for the defending champs, but OKC is taking advantage of the fractured play.

Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell are a combined 9-of-36 (25%) from the field, as the Spurs look for consistent scoring.

Julian Champagnie (22 pts) and Stephon Castle (21 pts) have been the top scorers for San Antonio, but Castle’s been relegated to the bench after picking up his fifth foul early in the period.

MAY 26, 2026 / 10:42 ET

Thunder lead 101-91 after three

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30 pts) is having his best game of the series, leading the Thunder to a lead in a crucial Game 5.

OKC’s 11-of-23 (47.8%) from 3-point range and has a 33-21 lead in bench points, sparked by Cason Wallace (7 pts, +24) and Alex Caruso (17 pts, 3 3PM).

The Spurs have a 17-2 advantage in fast break points, but the Thunder’s methodical offense has paid dividends all night.

MAY 26, 2026 / 10:34 ET

Shai on the attack

SGA (27 pts, 6 ast) is 13-of-14 at the line tonight — his best game from the free throw stripe in the series.

He’s gotten loose and managed to avoid Victor Wembanyama’s presence in the paint.

98-88 Thunder with 55.7 left in the third quarter.

MAY 26, 2026 / 10:22 ET

A 14-2 Spurs run

87-79 Thunder, as the Spurs cut into the advantage and get back into the game.

Keldon Johnson (11 pts), Stephon Castle (19 pts) and Devin Vassell have hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions for San Antonio.

They’re up to 10-of-25 (40%) from distance.

MAY 26, 2026 / 10:18 ET

‘Instant oatmeal’

Jared McCain (11 pts) has the last seven points for the Thunder, prompting the quip from Jamal Crawford — a microwave scorer off the bench himself.

The Spurs have worked hard here, including a finish at the rim for Victor Wembanyama (14 pts, 3 blk), stemming the Thunder tide.

Wemby tips it in through contact 👽

The Spurs are battling in Game 5! pic.twitter.com/W2DzDmDd7B

— NBA (@NBA) May 27, 2026

85-73 Thunder with 6:44 to go in the third.

MAY 26, 2026 / 10:12 ET

Thunder rolling early in the third

OKC started the quarter on a 7-0 run, taking a 76-58 lead with 9:54 to go in the third quarter.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (22 pts) just hit a stepback 3-pointer to cap the stretch, forcing a timeout as the Spurs search for answers on the road in the Paycom Center.

Victor Wembanyama (11 pts) rallied his teammates in the huddle. Can they respond?

MAY 26, 2026 / 9:51 ET

Thunder up 69-58 at the half

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (19 pts, 3 ast) has found his scoring touch, outdoing Victor Wembanyama (11 pts) and helping push the Thunder to a lead at the break.

“Trying to attack space and be aggressive,” said Chet Holmgren (12 pts, 6 reb). “We’ve got to do another 24 minutes like that.”

Julian Champagnie (17 pts, 5 reb, 4 3PM) got hot in the first quarter, giving the Spurs a lift, but they’re going to need to find their defensive chops in the second half.

The Thunder scored 40 in the second quarter — their highest-scoring period of the series — and shooting 21-of-40 (52.5%) from the field so far.

MAY 26, 2026 / 9:45 ET

Caruso back

Alex Caruso (14 pts on 3-of-4 shooting, 4 ast, 3 stl) has returned to the floor and continued his winning ways for the Thunder. He’s given them whatever they need in this series.

63-52 Thunder with 1:20 to go in the half.

MAY 26, 2026 / 9:35 ET

Shai with the shake

SGA (11 pts, 2 stl) just shook Victor Wembanyama (9 pts, 1 blk) in the midrange, fading away along the baseline for a jumper.

🎥 https://t.co/9neCiKM90Q pic.twitter.com/26vc0siy3s

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 27, 2026

Stephon Castle (8 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast) responded with a free-throw line jumper of his own after two defenders went to Wemby in the paint.

Some very talented guards going at it in this series.

52-46 Thunder with 4:11 to go in the second.

MAY 26, 2026 / 9:29 ET

San Antonio battling back

Keldon Johnson (4 pts, 2-of-3 FGA) just went through Chet Holmgren for the slam, capping a spurt for the Spurs.

SPURS 9-0 RUN 💨

A powerful two-hand jam from Johnson in Game 5! pic.twitter.com/5f0oqG0GLU

— NBA (@NBA) May 27, 2026

The run came after Alex Caruso tweaked his ankle, heading back to the locker room for treatment. He’s been a force for the Thunder throughout this series, contributing in all aspects of the game — could be a major factor going forward.

45-44 Thunder with 6:08 to go in the half.

MAY 26, 2026 / 9:18 ET

Grinding it out

Both teams are up to seven turnovers in a game that’s seen six lead changes and five ties.

San Antonio has a 10-2 advantage in fast break points, while the Thunder have a 20-7 lead in bench points, led by Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace, who have seven apiece.

41-35 Oklahoma City with 9:00 to go in the second quarter.

MAY 26, 2026 / 9:06 ET

Watch Wemby rise up

Johnson lobs it up.
Wemby slams it home.

Spurs trail by 2 after 1Q in Game 5! https://t.co/KDw9dcCbCX pic.twitter.com/Fz5kdgFLPm

— NBA (@NBA) May 27, 2026

MAY 26, 2026 / 9:04 ET

Thunder up 29-27 after one

It’s been a competitive contest so far, as both coaches look for contributors this deep in a tough series.

Oklahoma City’s shooting 10-of-20 (50%) from the field so far, although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7 pts on 1-of-5 shooting) has been dealing with a ton of attention from the San Antonio defense.

Cason Wallace’s quick hands have shown up repeatedly, including a steal in the waning seconds of the quarter that led to an SGA 3-pointer.

The Spurs got a boost from rookie Carter Bryant (5 pts) who put down an elegant slam and knocked down a 3-pointer while defending Shai. They’ve forced nine turnovers so far.

“Be desperate,” Keldon Johnson reportedly told his teammates in the huddle. “We have to win this game.”

MAY 26, 2026 / 8:51 ET

Dueling back and forth

The Thunder are rallying with Chet Holmgren (8 pts, 4 reb) leading the way, while Victor Wembanyama hasn’t yet taken a shot.

Julian Champagnie (13 pts, 3 3PM, 2 stl) has put up his best scoring game of the series already.

18-15 Spurs with 3:59 to go in the first quarter.

MAY 26, 2026 / 8:42 ET

Spurs out to an early lead

11-6 San Antonio with 7:56 to go in the first quarter.

Julian Champagnie (6 pts, 2 3PM) is hot from 3-point range early, which is a welcome change for the Spurs.

Chet Holmgren (4 pts, 3 reb) is the lead scorer for OKC in the opening moments.

Both teams are looking for flow, combining for seven quick turnovers.

MAY 26, 2026 / 8:00 ET

A flash back to 2018

Last Western Conference Finals series tied 2-2? 2018.

No. 1 Houston vs. No. 2 Golden State 🍿

The series went seven games, with the Warriors coming out on top and would go on to become NBA Champions! https://t.co/wCSarB8asn pic.twitter.com/zS18yzikmu

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 26, 2026

MAY 26, 2026 / 6:00 ET

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are hosting the Spurs in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals tonight on NBC and Peacock.

San Antonio:

• PG De’Aaron Fox
  • Fox (12 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast) committed zero turnovers in Game 4, aiding the Spurs as an experienced floor general.
• SG Stephon Castle
  • Castle’s had one turnover in each of the last two games after committing 20 in the first two. That’s a game-changer for San Antonio.
• SF Devin Vassell
  • Vassell is making 3.5 of 7.8 3PA (45.2%) so far in this series, while adding athletic length defensively for San Antonio. He’s been one of the Spurs’ most important players.
• PF Julian Champagnie
  • Champagnie is +15 in this series — fourth on the team — despite making just 1.5 of 7.8 3PA (19.4%) per game.
• C Victor Wembanyama
  • The Alien is shooting 52.6/42.9/88.2 from the field so far in this series — gaudy numbers, especially when you stand 7-foot-4. The Spurs are 2-0 in this series when he takes 20+ shots.

Oklahoma City:

• PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
  • SGA has held Castle to 10 pts on 2-for-9 shooting so far in this series over 52.3 partial possessions. We’ll see if the Thunder try that more with Ajay Mitchell ailing.
• SG Luguentz Dort
  • Dort has defended basically everyone on the Spurs in this series. But he’s -41 overall — by far the worst on the team — with Jared McCain, Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace all cutting into his minutes.
• SF Jalen Williams
  • J-Dub is back after being deemed questionable with a hamstring strain. If healthy, he’s a problem for anyone on San Antonio to defend.
• PF Chet Holmgren
  • Holmgren is just 3-for-9 (33.3%) from 3-point range in this series, taking fewer attempts than Jaylin Williams (19) and Isaiah Joe (10). Let it fly!
• C Isaiah Hartenstein
  • I-Hart’s defense against Wembanyama swung Game 2, but the Thunder went away from it in Games 3 and 4, focusing on pushing him away from the basket. We’ll see how they seek to defend The Alien tonight.

MAY 25, 2026 / 6:15 ET

Tuesday’s injury report

Ajay Mitchell and Thomas Sorber are out for the Thunder, while Jalen Williams is questionable.

Mitchell has a right calf strain, while Williams is recovering from a left hamstring strain.

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are in Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder in Game 5 of the West Finals tonight on Peacock and NBC.

Enjoy the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news and highlights from Tuesday’s action.

Tonight’s contest features Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder, as these rivals face off in Game 5 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals (8:30, ESPN).

What we know about Tuesday’s game:

• In a 2-2 series in the NBA Playoffs, the home team for Game 5 has gone on to advance 73.1% of the time.

MAY 26, 2026 / 8:00 ET

A flash back to 2018

Last Western Conference Finals series tied 2-2? 2018.

No. 1 Houston vs. No. 2 Golden State 🍿

The series went seven games, with the Warriors coming out on top and would go on to become NBA Champions! https://t.co/wCSarB8asn pic.twitter.com/zS18yzikmu

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 26, 2026

MAY 26, 2026 / 6:00 ET

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are hosting the Spurs in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals tonight on NBC and Peacock.

San Antonio:

• PG De’Aaron Fox
  • Fox (12 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast) committed zero turnovers in Game 4, aiding the Spurs as an experienced floor general.
• SG Stephon Castle
  • Castle’s had one turnover in each of the last two games after committing 20 in the first two. That’s a game-changer for San Antonio.
• SF Devin Vassell
  • Vassell is making 3.5 of 7.8 3PA (45.2%) so far in this series, while adding athletic length defensively for San Antonio. He’s been one of the Spurs’ most important players.
• PF Julian Champagnie
  • Champagnie is +15 in this series — fourth on the team — despite making just 1.5 of 7.8 3PA (19.4%) per game.
• C Victor Wembanyama
  • The Alien is shooting 52.6/42.9/88.2 from the field so far in this series — gaudy numbers, especially when you stand 7-foot-4. The Spurs are 2-0 in this series when he takes 20+ shots.

Oklahoma City:

• PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
  • SGA has held Castle to 10 pts on 2-for-9 shooting so far in this series over 52.3 partial possessions. We’ll see if the Thunder try that more with Ajay Mitchell ailing.
• SG Luguentz Dort
  • Dort has defended basically everyone on the Spurs in this series. But he’s -41 overall — by far the worst on the team — with Jared McCain, Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace all cutting into his minutes.
• SF Jalen Williams
  • J-Dub is back after being deemed questionable with a hamstring strain. If healthy, he’s a problem for anyone on San Antonio to defend.
• PF Chet Holmgren
  • Holmgren is just 3-for-9 (33.3%) from 3-point range in this series, taking fewer attempts than Jaylin Williams (19) and Isaiah Joe (10). Let it fly!
• C Isaiah Hartenstein
  • I-Hart’s defense against Wembanyama swung Game 2, but the Thunder went away from it in Games 3 and 4, focusing on pushing him away from the basket. We’ll see how they seek to defend The Alien tonight.

MAY 25, 2026 / 6:15 ET

Tuesday’s injury report

Ajay Mitchell and Thomas Sorber are out for the Thunder, while Jalen Williams is questionable.

Mitchell has a right calf strain, while Williams is recovering from a left hamstring strain.