Thunder Bench Scores 76, Steals Game 3 from Spurs

Thunder Spurs Game 3 opened with Oklahoma City in a 15-0 hole inside three minutes. San Antonio had posted the longest opening scoring run in conference finals history since play-by-play tracking began in 1997-98. Mark Daigneault sent in the bench. The Oklahoma City Thunder outscored the San Antonio Spurs by 38 the rest of the game and won 123-108, taking a 2-1 Western Conference finals lead.

Why the OKC Bench Erased San Antonio’s Historic Opening Blitz

The San Antonio Spurs scored the first 15 points of Game 3 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. That opening run was the longest to start a conference finals game since play-by-play tracking began in 1997-98. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault went to his bench immediately after San Antonio reached 15-0. Oklahoma City took the lead early in the second quarter and held that lead through the final buzzer.

Jared McCain led Oklahoma City’s reserves with 24 points in 27 minutes, a career playoff high for McCain. McCain went 2-of-10 from three-point range but scored 16 of his 24 points in the paint, attacking the rim against Victor Wembanyama. Reserve big man Jaylin Williams went 5-of-6 from deep and hit 4-of-5 three-pointers in the first half, finishing with 18 points. Alex Caruso added 15 points. Cason Wallace contributed 11. Oklahoma City’s bench combined for 76 points against just 23 from San Antonio’s bench, a 53-point margin.

Oklahoma City’s 76 bench points are the most by any team in a conference finals or NBA Finals game since starters were first tracked in 1971, per ESPN Research. The Thunder had also put four reserves in double figures in Game 2. Back-to-back conference finals games with four bench double-digit scorers had not occurred before in the modern era.

Oklahoma City leads the best-of-seven series 2-1. The Thunder produced this bench performance without Jalen Williams, their star wing, who missed Game 3 with left hamstring soreness. Victor Wembanyama scored a game-high 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting for San Antonio. The San Antonio Spurs must win three of four remaining games to reach the NBA Finals.

Sam Presti built Oklahoma City for exactly this scenario. Eight Thunder players can contribute on any given night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander managed the game rather than forced the issue in Game 3, trusting the reserves around him. “You just have a bunch of guys that are willing to do whatever the team needs,” Jaylin Williams said. “It’s built us as a team. It’s built us as players to be ready for the moment.”

Game 4 tips off Sunday night at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Victor Wembanyama said after the Game 3 loss he needs to be “more of a team player,” signaling San Antonio will adjust. Jalen Williams’ status for Game 4 remains uncertain. A Thunder win Sunday puts Oklahoma City one victory from the NBA Finals. Games 6 and 7, if needed, would be at home in Oklahoma City.