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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) moves on the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half of Game 5 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Oklahoma City.<\/p>\n
Julio Cortez\/AP Photo\/Julio Cortez<\/p>\n
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) moves on the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half of Game 5 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Oklahoma City.<\/p>\n
Julio Cortez\/AP Photo\/Julio Cortez<\/p>\n
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) moves against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half of Game 5 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Oklahoma City.<\/p>\n
Gerald Leong\/AP Photo\/Gerald Leong<\/p>\n
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) vie for a loose ball in the first half of Game 5 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Oklahoma City.<\/p>\n
Julio Cortez\/AP Photo\/Julio Cortez<\/p>\n
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) makes a basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) in the second half of Game 5 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Oklahoma City.<\/p>\n
Julio Cortez\/AP Photo\/Julio Cortez<\/p>\n
It’s been a very simple formula for the San Antonio Spurs in these Western Conference finals. When Victor Wembanyama has been the best player on the floor, they win. When he isn’t, they lose.<\/p>\n
He wasn’t the best player on the floor Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
That was not the only reason why the Spurs fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of the West finals \u2014 there were many \u2014 but it was certainly among them. Wembanyama, who has had 41-point and 33-point outings in winning efforts during the series, never seemed to get fully rolling and the Spurs lost 127-114.<\/p>\n
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Now down 3-2 in the series, they’ll try to extend the matchup \u2014 and save their season \u2014 in Game 6 at San Antonio on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
Wembanyama scored 20 points, his lowest of the series, and only a 12-for-12 effort from the foul line helped him get there in Game 5. He was 4 for 15 from the floor, missing all five of his 3-point tries, never seeming to get into any sort of rhythm.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got to take more than 15 shots, even with the free throws,\u201d Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said in his postgame news conference in Oklahoma City. \u201cHe\u2019s going to have to score more than 20 points, for sure. … OKC did a good job. We\u2019ve got to do a better job.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wembanyama did not speak with reporters after the game.<\/p>\n
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The first halves have told much of the story. In San Antonio’s two wins in this series, Wembanyama has gone 7-for-15 and 6-for-11 from the field. In the three losses, his halftime shot numbers \u2014 2-for-4, 2-for-5 and 2-for-6, the last of those what he did in the first two quarters on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Wembanyama offered an impassioned speech to teammates during a timeout barely two minutes into the third quarter, after the Thunder opened an 18-point lead. And it worked \u2014 to a point. Oklahoma City scored again to get the lead up to 20, but the Spurs closed within eight later in the third.<\/p>\n
It seemed like there was hope. But the Spurs didn’t get any closer. The deficit was 10 going into the fourth, the Spurs scored only two points in the first 4:02 of the final quarter, and whatever momentum that seemed like it was building after Wembanyama’s timeout speech appeared to be gone.<\/p>\n
And on a night in which the Thunder just kept throwing different bodies \u2014 Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams, Alex Caruso and more \u2014 along with different looks at Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 French star just didn’t have enough answers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s a team defense,\u201d Thunder guard Jared McCain said. \u201cWe talked about it. We made adjustments to it. We know that when he gets going, their whole team gets going.”<\/p>\n
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Obviously, the Spurs know what’s coming from the Thunder on Thursday \u2014 more of the same. San Antonio has two days to figure out how to counter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they sent so many bodies towards him, it\u2019s hard at times,\u201d Spurs guard Stephon Castle said. \u201cI think he just wants to make the right play and wants to win. … He\u2019s our best player. We need him to be aggressive. I feel like him being aggressive opens up shots for other guys.\u201d<\/p>\n