Thunder Grab Series Lead After Erasing 15-0 Deficit in Game 3
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the San Antonio Spurs 123-108 in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals Friday night, seizing a 2-1 series lead and silencing a roaring crowd at Frost Bank Center. The victory was especially impressive given the circumstances: the Thunder overcame a 15-0 first-quarter deficit and did so without star forward Jalen Williams, who missed the game with a hamstring strain.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points and dished out 12 assists, but the story of the night was Oklahoma City’s bench. The Thunder reserves erupted for 76 points, with trade-deadline acquisition Jared McCain pouring in 24 points, Jaylin Williams adding 18 on 5-of-6 shooting from three-point range, and Alex Caruso contributing 15 points, three rebounds, and a game-high plus-28 rating in 24 minutes. Caruso has emerged as a defensive menace and steady offensive contributor throughout the series.
The Spurs started the game on a 15-0 run, and Victor Wembanyama finished with 26 points and four rebounds, but San Antonio could not sustain its early momentum. Oklahoma City outscored the Spurs 73-45 from the second quarter onward, showcasing a depth that has become a hallmark of the reigning NBA champions.
Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday at 8 p.m. ET in San Antonio, with the Thunder aiming to take a commanding 3-1 lead before returning home. The Spurs have not lost three consecutive games all season.
Series Stakes: Injury Clouds and Must-Win Territory for San Antonio
Thunder’s Injury Situation Could Shift Dynamics
Jalen Williams is listed as questionable for Game 4 with left hamstring soreness, and his potential absence looms large. Williams is the Thunder’s second-leading scorer in the playoffs and a primary ball-handler when Gilgeous-Alexander rests. Oklahoma City is also without Ajay Mitchell (soleus strain) and Thomas Sorber (torn ACL).
If Williams cannot play, the Thunder will again rely heavily on their bench unit that delivered in Game 3. Jared McCain’s emergence as a scoring threat off the bench has been a revelation; the rookie guard, acquired from Philadelphia at the NBA trade deadline, attacked the rim relentlessly and hit big shots when OKC needed them most. Jaylin Williams’ shooting — he knocked down five three-pointers — opened up driving lanes for Gilgeous-Alexander and forced San Antonio’s defense to stretch beyond its comfort zone.
The Thunder have been one of the NBA’s most resilient teams this postseason, going 5-0 on the road. But losing Williams for an extended period would test even the deepest roster in the league.
Spurs Look to Avoid Third Straight Loss
San Antonio has not lost three games in a row since mid-January, a stretch that underscores how consistently the Spurs have performed throughout the season. Yet after building a 15-0 lead in Game 3, the collapse was glaring. De’Aaron Fox, playing in his second game back from injury, scored 15 points but struggled to find rhythm. Devin Vassell contributed 20 points, but the Spurs’ offense stagnated after the first quarter.
Wembanyama, who dominated early with his length and rim protection, faded as Oklahoma City’s guards forced him into difficult contests on the perimeter. The Rookie of the Year candidate had just four rebounds, and the Thunder’s smaller lineups neutralized his typical advantage on the glass.
“We’re going to see what we’re made of,” Wembanyama said after Game 3, acknowledging the urgency of Sunday’s matchup. The Spurs are 5-3 against the Thunder this season, including the regular season, but have lost the last two meetings.
Broader Implications: Depth vs. Star Power in the New NBA
This series has become a fascinating case study in roster construction. The Thunder, built around Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP-caliber leadership and an astonishingly deep bench, have neutralized the traditional star-power advantage that teams like the Spurs typically rely on. Oklahoma City has seven players averaging double-digit minutes in the postseason, and Caruso — a defensive specialist who might be in line for series MVP consideration — exemplifies how role players can swing a playoff series.
The Spurs, meanwhile, feature the most unique talent in the league in Wembanyama, but have struggled to find consistent secondary scoring when Fox and Vassell are off their games. San Antonio’s starting lineup has been outscored by Oklahoma City’s reserves in two of the three games so far.
This trend echoes broader shifts across the NBA. The days of relying on two or three superstars to carry a team through the playoffs are giving way to a model that prizes rotation depth and tactical flexibility. The Thunder, even without Jalen Williams, can throw waves of fresh, capable players at opponents, forcing mistakes and punishing mismatches.
For San Antonio, Game 4 is about more than avoiding a 3-1 hole. It is about proving that their star-driven approach can adjust when the opponent’s bench is dictating the tempo. Historically, teams that go down 3-1 in the conference finals rarely recover. While the Spurs came back from such deficits before — they did it against the Warriors in 2018 — this Thunder team has shown a ruthless ability to close out games.
If the Spurs lose Sunday, they will face elimination in Game 5 in Oklahoma City. The Thunder have not lost a playoff game at home this season. San Antonio’s path to the NBA Finals may well be decided in the next 48 hours.
For more on the playoff landscape, see our coverage of All-NBA Teams 2026 Announcement Looms as Playoffs Reach Conference Finals.
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