Key Highlights
- The San Antonio Spurs are facing elimination in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals.
- Victor Wembanyama’s performance is crucial for the Spurs as they need him to score more than 20 points.
- Oklahoma City Thunder rely on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who struggled but showed resilience.
- The Thunder use collective playoff experience to navigate critical moments in games.
Spurs at Elimination’s Edge: A Test for Wembanyama and Castle
“Find a way back here for Game 7,” Stephon Castle said, echoing the Spurs’ desperation. San Antonio faces elimination in their first deep playoff run with this roster led by All-NBA forward-center Victor Wembanyama.
The Spurs’ guard Devin Vassell is blunt: “Experience does not matter.”
But that’s a tough pill to swallow, especially as the series stands tied 2-2. Wembanyama, their best player, must prove his worth in Game 6.
Wembanyama’s Key
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson stresses the need for more than just 20 points from Wembanyama. In the last game, he managed only a series-low 20 points and attempted just 15 shots. “They send so many bodies towards him, it’s hard at times,” Castle noted.
In San Antonio’s two victories, Wembanyama averaged 37 points, 16 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.0 blocks and shot 53.2% from the field, 44.4% on 3-pointers and 90.9% on free throws. In losses: 22.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3.0 blocks and 1.3 steals, with a shooting percentage of 43.5%/29.4%/91.7%. Everyone knows which Wembanyama the Spurs need.
Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The Thunder aim to lean on their two-time Kia MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who struggled in Game 5 with a 38.3% shooting percentage and 3.4 turnovers per game.
In the regular season, he shot 55.3% from the field and committed just 2.2 turnovers per game. He became the first guard to average at least 30 points while shooting over 55%, a feat few have matched in recent NBA history.
Thunder’s Playoff Experience
Oklahoma City has used their collective experience to navigate difficult situations. Daigneault noted, “The thing that you take from those experiences is the mental part of it – not getting too high, not getting too low and just going in there knowing you have to come with a certain sense of urgency.”
In the 2024, 2025 and 2026 playoffs, the Thunder played in nine games where they could close out the series and have won seven. They’ve never lost a series when leading 3-0.
“We’ve been doing this all year in terms of just problem-solving as a team and competing together,” Daigneault added, emphasizing their core group’s resilience and adaptability.
The stage is set for another intense battle between the Spurs and Thunder.
Will Wembanyama rise to the occasion? Can Gilgeous-Alexander turn his performance around?
“It’s a huge factor for us, the continuity we have,” Daigneault concluded.
The writing on the wall is clear: San Antonio needs to respond with force and urgency in Game 6. Or else…
San Antonio (2) vs Oklahoma City Thunder (1)
Game 6, Thursday, May 25, 2023
