NBA: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs rout Thunder in Game 4 to even series

After taking responsibility for his struggles in Game 3, Victor Wembanyama delivered a commanding response on Sunday, powering the San Antonio Spurs to a 103-82 home victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder to even the Western Conference finals at two games apiece.

Wembanyama set the tone immediately, scoring on a three-pointer on the opening possession and following it up with a defensive statement by rejecting a dunk attempt from Chet Holmgren on Oklahoma City’s next trip down the floor. From there, San Antonio never trailed.

The Spurs’ star finished with 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals in a performance that anchored both ends of the court.

“We just responded,” Wembanyama said. “It was nothing amazing. It wasn’t magic. We just did what we needed to do.”

San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said Wembanyama’s presence defined the team’s approach from the start.

“Our competitive response all year has been pretty good,” Johnson said. “He’s been at the forefront of that more than not. I think tonight he felt an obligation to set a tone for us in a variety of ways.”

The Spurs built an early 15-point cushion, jumping ahead 23-8 before the Thunder gradually stabilized. But unlike Game 3, when San Antonio lost control of a similar advantage, the Spurs maintained their composure and continued to extend the lead.

Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander acknowledged the fast start from San Antonio.

“They punched us in our face early,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.

The Thunder briefly narrowed the gap to five points late in the second quarter, but San Antonio answered decisively. Devin Vassell scored four quick points, and Wembanyama closed the half in dramatic fashion by hitting a shot from near midcourt as time expired, sending the Spurs into the locker room with a 12-point lead.

“I was just thinking shoot to score,” Wembanyama said. “I wasn’t messing around.”

Oklahoma City’s offense struggled to find rhythm throughout the night. The Thunder shot just 33 percent from the field and finished 6 of 33 from three-point range, marking one of their least efficient shooting performances in recent seasons.

Their 82 points were the fewest the franchise has scored since December 2021 and their lowest in a playoff game since 2020.

San Antonio’s defensive pressure forced 20 turnovers, leading to 25 points off those mistakes. The Spurs also earned a significant advantage at the free-throw line, attempting 32 shots compared to Oklahoma City’s 18.

“We’ve got good individual defenders,” Wembanyama said. “When we connect individual and team defense, it holds teams to low-scoring numbers.”

The Spurs widened the gap in the third quarter with a 20-7 run to open the period, effectively putting the game out of reach. Oklahoma City star Gilgeous-Alexander played the entire third quarter but was rested for the fourth as the outcome became increasingly one-sided.

San Antonio adjusted its defensive approach on Gilgeous-Alexander, primarily defending him one-on-one while rotating help defenders to limit driving lanes. He finished with 19 points on 6-of-15 shooting, with no other Thunder player scoring more than 12.

Oklahoma City’s bench, which had been a major factor earlier in the series, was largely contained. Injuries to key ballhandlers Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell left the second unit short-handed, and the group struggled to establish any consistent production.

Alex Caruso, who had been averaging 21 points in the series, was held scoreless on just one shot attempt. Rookie Jared McCain also struggled, going 1 of 10 from the field.

The Thunder reserves were outscored 34-30, with more than half of their production coming late in garbage time after coach Mark Daigneault emptied his bench in the fourth quarter.

San Antonio, meanwhile, received steady contributions across the roster. Stephon Castle finished with 13 points and just one turnover after earlier struggles with ball security in the series. De'Aaron Fox added 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists without committing a turnover.

The Spurs shot 38.9 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from three-point range, but their defensive intensity and transition scoring proved decisive in evening the series and restoring home momentum.

With the series now tied, both teams head into Game 5 knowing the margin for error has narrowed as the Western Conference finals shift back to Oklahoma City. -Field Level Media/Reuters