Thunder pull away from Spurs in Game 3, lead series 2-1

The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 123-108 on Friday, May 22, 2026, in West Finals Game 3 at Frost Bank Center, taking a 2-1 series lead behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 26 points and 12 assists. Oklahoma City recovered from an early deficit and controlled the final three quarters with efficient shooting and steady ball movement.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

San Antonio opened with the sharper start and carried a 31-26 lead after one. The Spurs found good early rhythm offensively, and Victor Wembanyama helped set that tone as the home team attacked the paint and got to the line. Oklahoma City stayed close, but San Antonio’s pace and execution gave it a brief edge.

Second Quarter

The game turned in the second. Oklahoma City outscored San Antonio 32-20 in the period, tightening up defensively and finding more clean perimeter looks. That swing erased the Spurs’ early advantage and sent the Thunder into halftime with a 58-51 lead. The shift in shot quality was significant, especially as OKC’s offense began generating open threes through drive-and-kick action.

Third Quarter

The Spurs responded with 33 points in the third, but the Thunder matched and then exceeded it with a 37-point quarter of their own. Every time San Antonio looked ready to trim the margin, Oklahoma City answered with another efficient possession. That exchange kept the Thunder comfortably in front, 95-84, heading into the fourth.

Fourth Quarter

Oklahoma City stayed in control over the final 12 minutes, outscoring San Antonio 28-24 to close out the 15-point win. The Thunder continued to make timely shots, avoided long scoring droughts, and kept the Spurs from making a serious late push. On the road, it was the kind of closing stretch that can shift a playoff series.

Key Performers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder: 26 points and 12 assists to lead Oklahoma City’s offense. He balanced scoring with playmaking and was the central organizer once the Thunder settled in after the first quarter.

Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder: Led the team with 8 rebounds as Oklahoma City finished with a 41-37 edge on the glass. His interior work helped support the Thunder’s control of possessions.

Victor Wembanyama, Spurs: 26 points to match Gilgeous-Alexander for game-high honors. He was San Antonio’s top scorer and remained productive even as the Thunder gained control in the middle quarters.

Devin Vassell and Stephon Castle, Spurs: Vassell led San Antonio with 7 rebounds, while Castle added 7 assists. The Spurs had productive stretches from their supporting cast, but they could not keep pace with Oklahoma City’s efficiency for a full 48 minutes.

NerdSports Stat: Oklahoma City won by 15 despite losing the first quarter by 5 because it outscored San Antonio by 20 over the middle two periods while also making four more three-pointers and posting a higher assist total, 29-26.

Game Analysis

This game was defined by efficiency. Oklahoma City shot 48.1% from the field and 44.7% from three, compared with San Antonio’s 42.5% overall and 31.7% from deep. In a playoff setting where margins tighten quickly, that difference was decisive. The Thunder made 17 three-pointers to the Spurs’ 13, and many of those came within the flow of a well-connected offense.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s 12 assists stood out because they reflected the broader story of the game: Oklahoma City consistently created quality looks. The Thunder finished with 29 assists on 39 made field goals, a strong indicator of how well the ball moved after San Antonio’s early surge. Once OKC settled into the game, the offense became harder to disrupt.

For the Spurs, Wembanyama provided the headline production with 26 points, and San Antonio did generate pressure at the foul line, making 27 of 33 free throws. But the Spurs could not turn their first-quarter momentum into sustained defensive stops. They allowed 32 points in the second quarter and 37 in the third, and against a team as balanced as Oklahoma City, that left too little room for recovery.

There was also added attention around San Antonio entering the night because of the pregame uncertainty involving Harper’s availability. Even with that backdrop, the Spurs competed well early. Still, Oklahoma City’s experience, shot-making, and ability to respond to each San Antonio push became the defining factors by the second half.

Closing Context

With the win, Oklahoma City now leads the Western Conference finals series 2-1 and regains home-court leverage after taking Game 3 on the road. The Thunder improved to 64-18 overall and 30-10 away from home, while the Spurs moved to 62-20 overall. For San Antonio, Game 4 now carries added importance as it looks to avoid falling into a 3-1 series hole.

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