San Antonio Spurs defeat Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 to reach 2026 NBA Finals

The French phenom claimed Western Conference Finals MVP honors as San Antonio secured a hard-fought 111-103 road victory in the series decider to clinch their first Finals berth since 2014.

Photo: EFE

The Western Conference Finals required a legendary conclusion, and the Paycom Center bore witness to a definitive shift in the NBA hierarchy. The San Antonio Spurs stormed enemy territory to dethrone the reigning league champions, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 in the seventh and deciding game of the series. With the victory, the Texas franchise returns to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.

French center Victor Wembanyama solidified his status as a global superstar, anchoring the Spurs' offense with 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists over 41 minutes of play. His performance earned him the Western Conference Finals MVP award. San Antonio displayed an exceptional collective effort, with seven players scoring in double figures to counter a fierce resistance from the home side.

The opening quarter favored Mitch Johnson’s game plan, as the visitors raced to an early 14-point lead (27-13) fueled by clinical perimeter shooting. However, the Thunder responded through Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who carried the local offense with a stellar 35-point, 9-assist performance. Operating without the injured Jalen Williams (hamstring), OKC’s bench—led by Alex Caruso and Jared McCain with 12 points each—kept the game within reach, trailing by just three points at halftime.

The third quarter revived the game-of-runs dynamic that defined the entire series. San Antonio orchestrated a 16-2 run capped by a Wembanyama three-pointer to lead 76-65, but the Thunder battled back courtesy of Cason Wallace, who scored 14 of his 17 points in the final periods. Heading into the fourth, the scoreboard read a tight 80-77 in favor of the visitors.

The defining moment of the night occurred midway through the fourth frame. With the Thunder pushing in transition to trim the deficit to just four points, backup center Luke Kornet executed a massive block on Isaiah Hartenstein at the rim, silencing the local surge. Julian Champagnie penalized OKC from deep, finishing with 20 points (6 three-pointers), backed by 16 points from Stephon Castle and 15 from De'Aaron Fox to stretch the lead down the stretch. Gilgeous-Alexander missed a crucial three-pointer with the score at 103-109 in the final seconds, allowing San Antonio to seal the series from the free-throw line.

"This feeling, I cannot explain it. It is so powerful. We want four more victories. We are not done," an emotional Wembanyama stated post-game. The San Antonio Spurs will host the New York Knicks for Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals on Wednesday night.