Thunder, Spurs in search of 2-1 lead in WCF

Enjoy the very best of the 2026 NBA Playoffsoffered by Google, with the NBA.com reside weblog, that includes all of the significant moments, performances, observations, information and highlights from Friday’s motion.

Happy Friday, hoops followers! Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals shifts 467 miles south to San Antonio, because the Spurs will host the Oklahoma City Thunder (8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) with each groups preventing to take a 2-1 benefit in the sequence.

What we find out about Friday’s sport:

• The workforce that wins Game 3 of a best-of-7 sequence tied at 1-1 goes on to win the sequence 73.2% of the time. Will the Spurs’ hometown crowd assist them pull forward? Or will the Thunder regain home-court benefit?
• Injuries taking part in key function in Western Conference Finals. Game 3 of this thrilling sequence might be with out Jalen Williams (hamstring) for OKC, as he’ll miss his seventh full postseason contest. Meanwhile, De’Aaron Fox (ankle) and Dylan Harper (adductor), who have been listed as questionable main as much as this sport, are each accessible for San Antonio. Fox might be making his debut in the Western Conference Finals after sitting out Games 1 and a pair of.
• How will superstars dazzle followers subsequent? Victor Wembanyama posted a historic efficiency in Game 1, tallying 41 factors (14-25 FG), 24 rebounds and three blocks, then dropped 21 factors (8-16 FG, 3 3PM), 17 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 swats in Game 2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander adopted up his 24-point (7-23 FG), 12-assist, 5-steal outing in Game 1 with a scientific 30 factors and 9 dimes on 12-for-24 taking pictures in Game 2.

MAY 22, 2026 / 8:42 ET

Spurs convey the warmth early

San Antonio scores the primary 10 factors of the sport to seize a 10-0 lead with 10:10 remaining in the opening quarter on NBC/Peacock! The Thunder take a fast timeout with Frost Bank Center in a frenzy.

Welcome again @swipathefox!

📺 NBA on NBC pic.twitter.com/IIw5oF3DCn

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 23, 2026

MAY 22, 2026 / 8:30 ET

Oklahoma City Thunder:

• PG – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (28.7 ppg, 7.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.0 bpg)
• SG – Luguentz Dort (6.5 ppg, 1.7 3PM on 36.2 3P%)
• SF – Ajay Mitchell (16.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.7 spg)
• PF – Chet Holmgren (17.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.2 spg, 1.6 bpg)
• C – Isaiah Hartenstein (9.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.1 spg)

With no Jalen Williams (hamstring) tonight, Ajay Mitchell will slide again into OKC’s beginning unit, a job he is performed brilliantly all through the postseason in simply his second season.

Alex Caruso, who dropped 31 factors and eight 3-pointers in Game 1, Jared McCain, and Cason Wallace, contemporary off being named to a Kia NBA All-Defensive Second Team choice, ought to take up most of the minutes vacated by ‘J-Dub’.

San Antonio Spurs:

• PG – De’Aaron Fox (18.8 ppg, 5.8 apg, 1.1 spg)
• SG – Stephon Castle (20.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 6.6 apg)
• SF – Devin Vassell (13.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.2 spg, 0.9 bpg)
• PF – Julian Champagnie (10.7 ppg, 2.5 3PM, 5.8 rpg, 1.4 spg)
• C – Victor Wembanyama (22.1 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 2.8 apg, 4.0 bpg)

Rookie sensation Dylan Harper (14.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.5 spg) will swimsuit up after sustaining an adductor harm that pressured him out of Game 2’s loss on Wednesday. Harper’s measurement and athleticism have been on full show all through the postseason, and he’ll convey a dynamic set off the Spurs’ bench.

Getting Fox again on the lead guard place ought to assist stabilize a Spurs offense that is turned it over 44 occasions via two outings.

Keldon Johnson (8.5 ppg, 43.3% on 2.3 3PA) and rookie Carter Bryant (2.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg) hold the vitality and defensive tenacity alongside Harper in the second unit.

MAY 22, 2026 / 8:15 ET

Fox on the free

De’Aaron Fox will make his Western Conference Finals debut after lacking the primary two video games with an ankle harm. Fox is averaging 18.8 factors, 5.8 assists and 1.1 steals per sport on 46.2 / 34.6 / 73.3 taking pictures splits in 11 playoff appearances this season.

De’Aaron Fox is AVAILABLE for Game 3 🦊

Thunder/Spurs ideas off at 8:30pm/et on NBC/Peacock 🍿 pic.twitter.com/rqgRvrOT2M

—NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2026

MAY 22, 2026 / 7:51 ET

Bam topped NBA Social Justice Champion

Congratulations to Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat for being named the 2025-26 NBA Social Justice Champion!

Join the NBA Family in celebrating the Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo because the 2025-26 NBA Social Justice Champion. This season, Bam led 18 social justice initiatives and invested greater than a half-million {dollars} into applications to broaden entry and alternative for youth and households.… https://t.co/BIzZ3tJaZE pic.twitter.com/poGXl1mB1m

—NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2026

MAY 22, 2026 / 7:47 ET

Kia NBA All-Defensive Teams introduced

Congratulations to the 2025-26 Kia NBA All-Defensive First Team!

The 2025-26 Kia NBA All-Defensive First Team:

▪️Rudy Gobert, @Timberwolves
▪️Chet Holmgren, @okcthunder
▪️ Ausar Thompson, @DetroitPistons
▪️ Victor Wembanyama, @spurs
▪️ Derrick White, @celtics pic.twitter.com/2TGi76rjCI

—NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 22, 2026

Congratulations to the 2025-26 Kia NBA All-Defensive Second Team!

The 2025-26 Kia NBA All-Defensive Second Team:

▪️ Bam Adebayo, @MiamiHEAT
▪️ OG Anunoby, @nyknicks
▪️Scottie Barnes, @Raptors
▪️Dyson Daniels, @ATLHawks
▪️ Cason Wallace, @okcthunder pic.twitter.com/03kDcuEFLZ

—NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 22, 2026

A more in-depth have a look at the voting outcomes:

A worldwide media panel of 100 voters chosen the 2025-26 Kia NBA All-Defensive Team.

The full voting outcomes ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/nzi2CGhq3T

—NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 22, 2026

MAY 22, 2026 / 7:54 ET

Tonight’s harm report

OKC @ SAS — Jalen Williams (hamstring) is out for the Thunder.

De’Aaron Fox (ankle) and Dylan Harper (adductor) are each accessible to play for the Spurs. Fox might be making his debut in the Western Conference Finals.