The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the San Antonio Spurs 123-108 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Friday night to take a 2-1 series lead.
While the Thunder's starting five struggled offensively for much of the night, their bench dominated with a historic 76 points in the game. That total is the most by a bench in a conference finals game since 1984. Jared McCain led the way with 24 points on 10-21 shooting. Only two Thunder starters, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, scored in double figures.
The Spurs came out aggressively with a 15-0 run to open the game but saw their lead evaporate as Oklahoma City’s depth took over. “We assume the opponent's always at their best and we need to be at ours and depth is a part of that,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said after the win. “It just needs to be one of our strengths that we rely on, regardless of circumstance.”
McCain, who has thrived in the playoffs, emphasized the team’s readiness. “We talk about it a lot, in practice and throughout the whole playoffs: Be ready and stay ready,” he said. “Coaches have done a great job of that. We all are hoopers and we all know what to do out there, especially this team. It's a very mature team. Coming in, I just want to be as ready as I can, no matter what it is.”
Victor Wembanyama had a strong game for the Spurs with 24 points, but his efforts weren't enough to overcome the Thunder’s bench production. Devin Vassell added 15 points for San Antonio, which now must regroup quickly after falling behind in the series.
The Thunder’s bench has now outscored opponents by an average of 18 points per game in the playoffs. Their ability to rotate and maintain intensity is a major advantage as the series shifts to Oklahoma City for Game 4.
Game 4 is set for Sunday. The Spurs will look to even the series and avoid facing elimination in their own building. The Thunder, meanwhile, will aim to close out the series at home and continue their march toward the NBA Finals.
The Florida Everblades edged the Wheeling Nailers 2-1 in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final on Friday night at Hertz Arena. Matty De St. Phalle scored the lone goal for Wheeling, while Cam Johnson made 24 saves to secure the win for Florida.
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