Spurs defeat Thunder in Game 7 to reach NBA Finals against Knicks

The San Antonio Spurs defeated the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 on Saturday night in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.

Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 22 points and seven rebounds in the decisive game played in Oklahoma City. Julian Champagnie scored 20 points, including six three-pointers, with 18 of his points coming from beyond the arc. Stephon Castle added 16 points, De'Aaron Fox contributed 15, Dylan Harper scored 12, and both Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell finished with 11 points each.

For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, and Cason Wallace added 17. The loss ended Oklahoma City's reign as defending champions after winning the 2025-26 title.

Wembanyama was named the Western Conference Finals MVP. The 22-year-old Frenchman, in his third NBA season, shed tears after the final buzzer while celebrating with his teammates on the court. "Realizing that some part of a childhood dream is going to come true," Wembanyama said while holding the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP Trophy. "Even though I'm still hungry for one m..." he added, his remarks trailing off.

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson praised his team's performance after the game. "Back in October, we knew we had a chance to be pretty good," Johnson said to the NBC broadcast. He commended his players for "giving themselves to each other, to the program, and everything that we've done. Oklahoma City's a helluva organization, and what a series." Johnson noted that his team's youth—in their first playoff run since 2019—meant experience was not the deciding factor. "There's been a lot being talked about, just words like competitiveness, resolve, togetherness, execution," he said.

The Spurs will face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, marking a rematch of the 1999 Finals, the last time the Knicks appeared in the championship series. The Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Game 1 is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m. Central Time at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, with the series to be broadcast on ABC.

The Spurs opened as -210 favorites in the Finals matchup, with the Knicks at +170. The Knicks had been favorites in all their previous playoff series this postseason but will be underdogs for the first time in the playoffs. One bettor cashed a parlay worth $1.71 million as a result of San Antonio's victory.

The Spurs' return to the Finals comes 12 years after their last appearance in 2014, when they defeated the Miami Heat 4-1 to win their fifth championship. The franchise had endured a lengthy rebuilding period following the retirement of longtime star Manu Ginóbili.