The Thunder was loud, but the Spurs rang louder in a hectic, chaotic Game One of the Western Conference Finals.
Victor Wembanyama put up a 41-point, 24 rebound double-double to help fuel the San Antonio Spurs past the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in double overtime of Game One of the Western Conference Finals on Monday night.
The first half, the two went back and forth, each exchanging multiple runs. The Spurs managed a late run in the second quarter to take a 51-44 lead into the halftime break. But the second half is where the game went from entertaining to epic.
The Spurs led by seven at the end of the third, with the two heavyweights giving body blows in the fourth quarter. The Thunder would erase a 10-point Spurs lead, cutting it to a 91-90 game with three minutes remaining. A big three from Devin Vassell gave the Spurs a 94-90 lead, but a quick bucket by the Thunder cut it back to two.
Then the drama ramped up in the final two minutes.
Alex Caruso would hit a three to give Oklahoma City a 95-94 lead. Julian Champagnie responded as the shot clock buzzer sounded.
The Thunder would grab another quick bucket to tie the game at 97. Dylan Harper then drew a foul with half a second remaining on the shot clock the next possession, hitting both free throws to give the Spurs a 99-97 lead with 30 seconds remaining. Shair Gilgeous-Alexander then hit two free throws to even it up at 99 a piece.
Wembanyama would hit a basket to put the Spurs up by two with 11 seconds left, before Gilgeous-Alexander hit a layup with three seconds left to even it up at 101-101. Wembanyama's game winner attempt was blocked to send the game to overtime.
In the extra period, both teams would struggle to score at first. The Spurs would jump out to a 105-101 lead. But the Thunder would not go quietly, coming back with a fast 7-0 run to take a 108-105 lead. Then Wembanyama came up clutch, once again, with a three pointer from the logo.
Things headed to a second overtime after a Thunder last possession went begging. The two once again struggled for buckets to start the second overtime. But Wembanyama changed that in an explosive way.
Wemby hit another pair of free throws to extend the Spurs lead to 112-108. A flagrant foul, on an and-one made by Dylan Harper, would give the Spurs a four-point lead. The Thunder would cut it back to one, then Wemby put the hammer down once again.
Wemby scored seven of San Antonio's 14 points in the second overtime. Devin Vassell then sealed the game a big block.
Dylan Harper added 24 points for the Spurs in the win, with Stephon Castle tallying another 17 points.
The Thunder were led by Alex Caruso's 31-point night, with Jalen Williams adding another 26 points. MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points while shooting just 7-for-23 from the floor.
San Antonio now takes a 1-0 series lead in the Western Conference Finals. Game two is set for Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.
Photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images