For the first few minutes of the first quarter, the San Antonio Spurs looked ready to blow the Oklahoma City Thunder right out of the building. Armed with a blistering 15-0 spurt to open the game, San Antonio had the home crowd rocking and OKC looking for answers.
But as the Spurs quickly found out, this Thunder team is far deeper than its starting five.
Weathering the early storm, Oklahoma City showcased its terrifying depth and offensive firepower, roaring back to defeat the Spurs 123-108 and claim a crucial 2-1 lead in the series.
While San Antonio’s initial onslaught threatened to turn the game into a rout, OKC’s second unit completely shifted the game’s gravity. The Thunder’s bench systematically dismantled the Spurs’ defense, turning a double-digit deficit into a comfortable victory.
While superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did his usual heavy lifting—chipping in an efficient 26 points to keep the offense steady—the night truly belonged to 76ers cast-off Jared McCain.
McCain provided the ultimate spark plug off the bench, torching the Spurs for 24 points in a performance that completely altered the momentum of the game. Whether it was timely three-pointers or fearless drives into the paint, McCain’s lethal scoring burst proved to be the x-factor San Antonio simply had no answer for.