The louder Frost Bank Center became Friday night with each momentum-shifting play in the opening minutes, the darker the cloud of anticipatory anxiety grew.<\/p>\n
De\u2019Aaron Fox\u2019s triumphant return to the floor \u2014 and Victor Wembanyama\u2019s new embracing of physicality \u2014 had invigorated the Spurs. Fox\u2019s immediate injection of speed, tempo control and leadership paired with all things Wembanyama became the catalyst of a blistering 19-4 start, a burst of energy so emotional and impactful that it threatened to blow the roof off the building.<\/p>\n
But as valiant as their early efforts were, they eventually would have to go to the bench. Fox, returning from a high ankle sprain, could not be overexerted at this stage in what appears to be a lengthy series; Wembanyama, having picked up early fouls, was subject to head coach Mitch Johnson\u2019s typical rotation patterns.<\/p>\n
No Wembanyama meant an emboldened, prideful Thunder group eager to attack from multiple angles without apprehension. No Fox left a young team without a true veteran presence on the floor in the most important minutes of their playoff lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a punch,\u201d Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said following OKC\u2019s 123-108 win<\/a> to take a 2-1 series lead in the West finals. \u201cCredit them, they were ready to play and they got us early in stops and transition.<\/p>\n