Spurs upset Thunder in Game 7 to advance to NBA Finals against Knicks

Now they’re really gonna party like it’s 1999.

The San Antonio Spurs have advanced to the 2026 NBA Finals, where they’ll face the New York Knicks in a rematch of the championship series from 27 years ago.

The Spurs on Saturday defeated the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 on the road in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, sending Victor Wembanyama to the Finals for the first time in his young career.

The 22-year-old, in just his third season since being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, was named MVP of the series. Wembanyama, in his first career postseason, had 22 points and seven rebounds in the clincher as the Spurs reached the Finals for the first time since 2014.

“It means everything,” Wembanyama said on NBC after the win. “We want four more [wins]. We’re not done yet.”

The Spurs had seven players in double figures after shooting 17-for-40 overall from deep, with Julian Champagnie scoring 20 and Stephon Castle adding 16.

The Spurs got out to a quick start by shooting efficiently — led by Castle, who had nine early points — to take a 27-13 lead midway through the first quarter. The Thunder, who shot 3-for-13 from deep in the first and commit six turnovers, responded with a 7-0 run and pulled to within seven by the end of the first at 32-25.

The Thunder – behind a big quarter by Gilgeous-Alexander, who had 19 first-half points —  pulled even with 2:15 left in the half on a 3 by Lu Dort that made it 49-49 and then took their first lead on a jumper by Jaylin Williams. The Spurs closed the half on a 7-0 run to take a 56-53 lead into the break.

The Spurs went on a 16-2 run midway through the third, capped by a Wembanyama 3, to open a 76-65 lead.

Early in the fourth quarter, De’Aaron Fox and Wembanyama hit back-to-back 3’s during a 13-4 San Antonio run to open a 97-86 lead with eight minutes remaining. The Thunder pulled within six and were on the fast break when the Spurs’ Luke Kornet, with Wembanyama on the bench, blocked Isaiah Hartenstein at the rim. Castle then followed with a jumper at the other end to push the lead to eight, and Champagnie followed with a 3 to make it 102-91.

Carson Wallace drained back-to-back 3’s to pull the Thunder within 107-101 with just over two minutes left. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a chance to make it a one-possession game on the ensuing possession but missed a 3. Castle then converted a putback at the other end to push the Spurs lead to 109-101 with one minute left to all but seal the win.

The Thunder, who swept the first two rounds of the playoffs, were denied the chance to become the first team since the 2017-2018 Golden State Warriors to win back-to-back titles. Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning back-to-back MVP, had 35 points in the loss. Chet Holmgren had just four points on 1-for-2 shooting.

The Spurs will have homecourt advantage in the NBA Finals, hosting Game 1 and Game 2, and if necessary, Game 5 and Game 7. Game 1 is set for Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Game 2 is Friday before the series shifts to Madison Square Garden for Games 3 and 4 on June 8 and 10.

The series will be a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals, in which Tim Duncan and David Robinson led the Spurs to a 4-1 series win over Allan Houson, Latrell Sprewell and the Knicks.

The Spurs return to the NBA Finals for the seventh time, and first since 2014 when they defeated the Miami Heat for their fourth title in 15 years (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014). The Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers to win the East and enter the Finals on an 11-game winning streak. They reach the Finals for the first time since 1999 and are seeking their first championship since 1973.

The series between the Spurs and Knicks is also a rematch of December’s NBA Cup final, which the Knicks won 124-113. The Knicks and Spurs split the regular-season series 1-1.

Source Link