Oklahoma City Eyes Revenge Against San Antonio After Defeat. Oklahoma City is preparing for a rematch against San Antonio after a setback in their first encounter. The team's key players are looking for ways to regain their previous effectiveness. Lineup questions remain for the Spurs.
The Oklahoma City Thunder found themselves under pressure after losing Game 1 of the Western Conference finals to the San Antonio Spurs. The game ended 122-115 in favor of the visitors, while Victor Wembanyama played a personal record 48 minutes and posted an impressive 41 points, 24 rebounds, and three blocks. Despite fatigue, the Spurs leader stated that the team would only rest in the summer; right now, their goal is to build on their success in the series.
The second game will take place in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, and the hosts are aiming for a quick response. According to Luguentz Dort, the team has faced rough starts to series before: last season, the Thunder lost the opening game twice, but both times managed to turn things around and win the series in seven games. Coach Mark Daigneault notes that the key to recovery is the ability to analyze their own mistakes and work on team play, rather than looking for someone to blame.
The Thunder staff are paying special attention to the need to contain Wembanyama’s offensive potential and to restore the scoring form of Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In Game 1, Holmgren made just two out of seven shots, although in previous rounds his average was over 18 points with 60% shooting. Daigneault stresses that the problem is not just with one player but with the overall quality of the team’s offense. If the team gets the ball moving and plays collectively, Holmgren can regain his usual effectiveness.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also failed to deliver his usual accuracy, making only seven of his 23 shots. He improved towards the end, but it wasn't enough to secure a win. Spurs unexpectedly featured rookie Dylan Harper in the lineup, replacing the injured De'Aaron Fox. Harper not only started but also scored 24 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, had seven steals, and dished out six assists. The question of Fox's return for the next game remains open: coach Mitch Johnson did not give a definitive timeline for the key point guard's recovery.
In the first game, the Thunder actively capitalized on their opponent's mistakes, scoring 28 points off 23 Spurs turnovers. However, even such a high figure did not allow them to turn the game around. Harper stated he is ready for any scenario—whether starting or coming off the bench. According to Field Level Media, both teams continue to prepare for a tense continuation of the series.
The situation in the series resembles recent European football battles, where favorites do not always win the opening matches but are able to turn the tide of the confrontation. For example, in the Europa League final, Aston Villa also faced personnel issues, but managed to reach the decisive match despite injuries to key players — more details can be found in the article about Aston Villa's fight for the final.
For reference: NBA conference finals are traditionally held in a best-of-seven format. If the two teams are tied after two games, the series returns to the Spurs' court. In recent years, Western Conference teams have often shown the ability to come back after a poor start, which makes this series especially unpredictable. Questions about the Spurs' lineup and the form of the Thunder's leaders could be decisive for the outcome of the second game.
