Wembanyama scores 33 as Spurs rip Thunder to level NBA playoffs | Basketball News
Wembanyama Leads Spurs to Victory, Evening Western Conference Finals
Published May 25, 2026
SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama scored 33 points, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a decisive 103-82 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, leveling the NBA Western Conference Finals at two games apiece.
The 22-year-old French center, standing 7 feet 4 inches tall, made 11 of 22 field goal attempts, including three of seven from beyond the arc. He also contributed eight rebounds, five assists, three blocked shots, and two steals in 31 minutes of play.
“I need to find ways to impact the game in many areas,” Wembanyama said. “I have a lot of responsibilities, but I’m here for it. All of us are going to have to do things we didn’t sign up for.”
With this win, the Spurs evened the best-of-seven playoff series, setting the stage for Game Five on Tuesday in Oklahoma City and Game Six back in San Antonio on Thursday.
“This was our first deficit in the playoff series. We just responded,” Wembanyama stated. “It was nothing amazing. It wasn’t magic. We just did what we needed to do. The series is far from over.”
Wembanyama emphasized the team’s determination to secure the NBA title. “We’ve got six more wins before we can rest,” he added.
The Spurs are pursuing their first NBA Finals appearance since 2014, while the Thunder aim to become the league’s first consecutive champions since the Golden State Warriors in 2017-18.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson praised Wembanyama’s aggressive approach, which helped prevent San Antonio from falling into a 3-1 series deficit.
“Our competitive response all year has been pretty good, and he has been at the forefront of that,” Johnson said. “He felt an obligation to set a tone for us in a variety of ways tonight.”
The Thunder had maintained an unbeaten record on the road during the playoffs, but the Spurs managed to contain their offensive efforts effectively.
“Any time we can turn defense into offense, particularly through turnovers and rebounding, that’s when we’re at our best,” Johnson added. “Our activity was great tonight, and we need to continue improving as the series progresses.”
Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA Most Valuable Player, led his team with 19 points.
Wembanyama made a half-court shot at the buzzer to end the first half, registering 22 points by that point and giving the Spurs a 50-38 lead.
“I was just thinking shoot to score,” he said.
The Spurs began the second half with a 15-5 run, extending their lead to 65-43. The Thunder could not recover from this deficit.
San Antonio’s Devin Vassell remarked on the importance of the momentum generated by Wembanyama’s buzzer-beater, while he and Stephon Castle each scored 13 points. De’Aaron Fox contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds in the victory.
As the series continues, both teams prepare for a pivotal Game Five, with the stakes escalating.
