Thunder beat Spurs 127-114, take 3-2 series lead

The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, taking a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals behind 32 points and nine assists from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Alex Caruso added 22 off the bench as Oklahoma City used a strong second quarter to move within one win of the NBA Finals.

Quarter-by-quarter breakdown

First quarter

Oklahoma City edged ahead early, taking a 29-27 lead after one quarter. San Antonio stayed close with efficient half-court offense, but the Thunder created a small cushion by moving the ball well and getting enough stops to finish the period in front.

Second quarter

The game swung in Oklahoma City’s favor in the second. The Thunder outscored the Spurs 40-31 in the quarter, pushing their lead to 69-58 at halftime. Gilgeous-Alexander kept the offense organized, and the bench group made a major impact, with Caruso helping Oklahoma City maintain pace and extend possessions at both ends.

Third quarter

San Antonio responded after halftime and won the third quarter 33-32. Stephon Castle provided needed scoring for the Spurs, and De’Aaron Fox helped keep the offense flowing. Even so, Oklahoma City avoided a major momentum shift by continuing to get to the line and answering key Spurs runs.

Fourth quarter

The Thunder stayed in control in the final 12 minutes, outscoring San Antonio 26-23 to close out the 127-114 win. Each time the Spurs threatened to trim the margin, Oklahoma City answered with efficient possessions, solid free-throw shooting, and another steady stretch from its reserve unit.

Key performers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder: 32 points and 9 assists, leading all scorers and setting the tone offensively for Oklahoma City.

Alex Caruso, Thunder: 22 points off the bench in another valuable reserve performance that helped the Thunder maintain control when the rotations shifted.

Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder: 15 rebounds, giving Oklahoma City a clear edge on the glass and extra support around the rim.

Stephon Castle, Spurs: 24 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals in a strong all-around effort for San Antonio.

De’Aaron Fox, Spurs: 8 assists as he worked to organize the Spurs offense and keep pressure on Oklahoma City.

NerdSports Stat: Oklahoma City scored 127 points despite taking only 83 shots because the Thunder paired 48.2% shooting with 33 made free throws and 14 made 3-pointers, a rare efficiency mix in a conference finals game.

Game analysis

The biggest separator was Oklahoma City’s shot quality and efficiency. The Thunder shot 48.2% from the field and 43.8% from 3-point range, while San Antonio finished at 40.2% overall and 29.3% from deep. That gap mattered throughout the night, especially once the Thunder created halftime separation.

Free throws also played a major role. Oklahoma City went 33-of-38 at the line, compared with 28-of-32 for San Antonio. The Thunder consistently turned drives and interior touches into points, which helped them steady the game whenever the Spurs made a push.

The rebounding margin favored Oklahoma City 48-41, and Hartenstein’s work stood out there. Combined with 26 team assists, the Thunder produced a balanced offensive profile that matched the flow of a team comfortable in a high-pressure playoff setting.

For San Antonio, Castle’s scoring was an encouraging sign, and the Spurs did enough in the third quarter to keep the result in reach. But the combination of lower 3-point accuracy, fewer rebounds, and Oklahoma City’s bench production made it difficult to fully erase the second-quarter deficit.

This result also fit the broader trend of the series: Oklahoma City has looked increasingly comfortable finding offense from multiple sources beyond its star guard. That depth was one of the central storylines coming into Game 5, and it showed again Tuesday night at Paycom Center.

Closing context

With the win, Oklahoma City now leads the best-of-seven series 3-2 and is one victory away from a return trip to the NBA Finals. The Thunder also improved to 64-18 overall and 34-7 at home, while San Antonio, now 62-20 overall, heads into Game 6 needing a win to extend its season.

Frequently Asked Questions