3 things to watch in Thunder-Spurs Game 3
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander units the tone in Game 2 with 30 factors as he leads the Thunder over the Spurs to tie the collection at 1-1.
SAN ANTONIO – Now it is the San Antonio Spurs’ flip to discover solutions towards the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.
The Thunder responded to Monday’s Game 1 double-overtime loss with a sound 122-113 victory in Game 2.
And because the groups concentrate on Game 3 – the winner of Game 3 of a 1-1 best-of-7 collection wins the collection 73.2% of the time – extenuating circumstances are complicating sport plans and impacting the path of the collection.
Injuries are piling up, depth is being examined and the bodily, psychological and emotional problem of a grueling collection is clear.
Here are three things to watch in Game 3 on Friday in San Antonio (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock).
1. Whose depth can higher handle accidents?
Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams missed the final three quarters of Game 2 with left hamstring tightness, and that is after a pressure to that very same muscle price him two first round video games vs. Phoenix and all 4 semi-final conference video games towards the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Spurs had been without De’Aaron Fox (proper ankle soreness) in the primary two video games of the collection, and Dylan Harper, who moved into the beginning lineup in place of Fox, sat out the ultimate 16 minutes and 50 seconds with a right leg injury.
It is forcing the Spurs to go deeper into their bench than they usually do, and the absence of Fox is placing further strain on San Antonio’s ball-handlers.
Through two video games, Oklahoma City’s bench has outscored the Spurs’ bench 107-41.
“We have to continue to trust our depth, and guys have to step up, and when their name’s called, answer the bell and be able to give us some quality minutes,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson stated. “As you do get drained and physicality heightens and depth is ever-so current, you have got to execute.
“There’s a mental, physical and emotional challenge and you have to be able to do that in the micro every possession and macro in terms of the totality of how you have a disposition and work a game for 48 minutes.”
That may imply extra minutes for Jordan McLaughlin, veteran Harrison Barnes and rookie Carter Bryant.
And for the Thunder, whereas it hurts to have Williams sidelined – he was an All-NBA selection in 2024-25 – they had been 45-10 with out him this season, and that is not together with the Game 3 victory towards Phoenix when he exited the sport in the second quarter and Game 2 towards San Antonio.
Johnson stated Fox, who re-aggravated the ankle in the second round towards the Minnesota Timberwolves, can be a game-time determination for the remainder of the playoffs.
“It’s a tough injury,” Johnson stated. “He wouldn’t be playing with it in the regular season so he’s trying to tough it out.”
2. Turnovers can be an element
San Antonio dedicated 23 turnovers in Game 1 and 21 in Game 2, main to 55 factors off of turnovers for Oklahoma City – 28 in Game 1 and 27 in Game 2.
The Spurs’ Stephon Castle has 20 turnovers by way of two video games, together with 11 that had been partially obscured by the Spurs’ Game 1 victory. The errors turned extra obvious in a Game 2 loss. Of Castle’s 4 turnovers in the second quarter Wednesday, three of them led to seven Thunder factors.
(*3*) Johnson stated.
Johnson added, “It’s not just Steph. He had too many turnovers, but our whole team did.”
Victor Wembanyama had 4 turnovers, main to six Thunder factors.
3. The Wembanyama chess match
Victor Wembanyama produced robust numbers in Game 2, however the Thunder discovered success with a recent matchup, using Isaiah Hartenstein.
As bizarre as this can be, the Thunder are prepared to stay with Wembanyama posting 21 factors, 17 rebounds, six assists and 4 blocks, which was what he had in Game 2.
What the Thunder can not afford is Wembanyama going for 41 factors, 24 rebounds, three assists and three blocks, which is what he did in San Antonio’s Game 1 victory.
In Game 1, Wembanyama feasted on the rim with 26 paint factors and tried simply two 3-pointers – considered one of them being the 28-footer that tied the rating at 108-108 and compelled the second time beyond regulation. In Game 2, Wembanyama had simply 10 paint factors and tried seven 3-pointers.
It’s straightforward to see what situation both sides prefers. Oklahoma City made a defensive adjustment in Game 2, utilizing 7-foot, 267-pound Isaiah Hartenstein as the primary defender on Wembanyama as a substitute of the 6-foot-5, 187-pound Alex Caruso.
Johnson will search for methods to open the ground so Wembanyama can discover some house even when Hartenstein is guarding him. And, in Game 2, there have been about 12 minutes when Wembanyama was on the courtroom and Hartenstein wasn’t. San Antonio wants to make the most of these minutes.
The Thunder need to play physics and make the sport as tough as potential for Wembanyama. The Spurs need to discover assaults that make the sport simpler. Eliminating turnovers and higher ball motion are steps in the suitable path.
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Jeff Zillgitt has lined the NBA since 2008. You can e mail him at jzillgitt@nba.comdiscover his archive here and follow him on.
