Victor Wembanyama scored 41 points and grabbed 24 rebounds as San Antonio won 122-115 on the road despite 23 turnovers.
1:54 AM
Victor Wembanyama scored 41 points and grabbed 24 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in double overtime in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Monday.
The Spurs won on the road despite significant challenges. San Antonio committed 23 turnovers, which the Thunder converted into 28 points. Stephon Castle, playing without De'Aaron Fox due to right ankle soreness, recorded a Spurs franchise playoff-record 11 turnovers while also contributing 17 points, six rebounds and 11 assists.
Wembanyama's efficiency was notable. He made 14 of 25 shots and 12 of 13 free throws. He also recorded three blocks in the contest.
The Thunder entered the series as 6.5-point favorites for Game 1, with the Over/Under set at 221.5 total points. Oklahoma City finished the regular season with the league's best record at 64-18, while San Antonio posted the second-best record at 62-20.
The two teams had met once before this season in the NBA Cup semifinals, which San Antonio won. The Spurs added three more victories over the regular season, though the teams had not faced each other since February.
The series had been anticipated since the playoffs began, with observers noting the star power and regular-season records of both Western Conference contenders.
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