Gilgeous-Alexander leads Oklahoma City past San Antonio in comeback victory

Gilgeous-Alexander leads Oklahoma City past San Antonio in comeback victory

Oklahoma City Thunder erased a 15-point deficit at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio to defeat the Spurs 123-108 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on May 22, 2026, taking a 2-1 series lead. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander matched Victor Wembanyama’s 26 points to lead the defending champions, while contributions from the Oklahoma City bench proved pivotal in turning the contest around.

San Antonio had started the first home game of the series emphatically, jumping to a 19-4 advantage inside five minutes as the crowd at Frost Bank Center created a charged atmosphere. Spurs guard Stephon Castle had noted after Game 2 that his team was most comfortable playing in front of its own fans, and the opening run appeared to bear that out. Oklahoma City’s reserves, including Alex Caruso, Jaylin Williams, Jared McCain and Cason Wallace, were widely credited with driving the comeback that eventually put the Thunder firmly in control.

The result complicates San Antonio’s position in a series where Wembanyama has been statistically dominant. The French center had recorded 41 points and 24 rebounds in a Game 1 Spurs victory, and Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning back-to-back NBA Most Valuable Player, had answered with 30 points in Oklahoma City’s Game 2 win. Wembanyama’s numbers through three games have drawn comparisons to postseason performances not seen at this stage in roughly five decades, yet San Antonio finds itself trailing after failing to convert a sizeable early advantage at home.

With Oklahoma City now holding a 2-1 lead, the Spurs face the prospect of going down 3-1 if they cannot respond in Game 4, still in San Antonio. A second consecutive home defeat would leave them needing to win three of the remaining four games to reach the NBA Finals.