Wembanyama and aggressive Spurs see off Thunder to force Game 7

Victor Wembanyama scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-91 at home in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals. Game 7 will be played in Oklahoma City, with the winner advancing to face the New York Knicks in the NBA finals. After a Game 5 loss in which Wembanyama had 20 points and six rebounds, San Antonio’s offense and defense improved quickly. Wembanyama hit two three-pointers and blocked a shot in the first 90 seconds as the Spurs took an early lead and never trailed. San Antonio’s defense intensified late in the third quarter, producing a 20-0 run and holding Oklahoma City to 13 third-quarter points. Oklahoma City missed 14 straight shots and scored only 13 points in the third quarter. With the game decided after three quarters, Oklahoma City rested Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein in the fourth.

"Victor Wembanyama scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, lifting the San Antonio Spurs to a 118-91 home win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals. The teams will play one last time in Game 7 on Saturday in Oklahoma City, with the winner advancing to face the New York Knicks in the NBA finals."

"It didn't take long for Wembanyama to show a difference from Game 5. He sank two three-pointers and blocked a shot in the game's first 90 seconds as San Antonio jumped in front early and never trailed. The Spurs led by 15 early in the second quarter, but the Thunder closed the deficit to five just before halftime before going into the break trailing by seven."

"San Antonio ratcheted up their defense late in the third and put together a 20-0 run to put the game away by the end of the quarter. The Thunder missed 14 consecutive shots, going nearly eight minutes between points. Oklahoma City scored just 13 third-quarter points, their fewest in a quarter this season."

"With the game out of reach after three quarters, Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault sat Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein in the fourth quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a team high of just 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting. It was Gilgeous-Alexander's lowest-scoring output since he scored 14 in Game 3 of last season's Western Conference finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves."

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