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SAN ANTONIO — The Thunder seized momentum in Game 3, but the Spurs snatched it right back in Game 4.
San Antonio thumped Oklahoma City 103-82 on Sunday night to even these Western Conference Finals at two games apiece.
Let’s get to the grades.
TAKEAWAYS: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs smash Thunder in Game 4, even up Western Conference Finals
Rough night for the MVP.
He was really the Thunder’s only available creator with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell sidelined with injuries. That put lots of strain on Gilgeous-Alexander, and while he led the Thunder with 19 points, he also had almost as many turnovers (four) as made baskets (six).
He went 6 of 15 from the floor and missed the only 3-point attempt he took. If not for going 7 of 7 from the free-throw line, it would’ve been an even bigger struggle.
The best part of his night: seven assists.
— Jenni Carlson, columnist
Jared McCain, Jaylin Williams and Alex Caruso combined for 57 points on 19-of-35 shooting in Game 3.
In Game 4, they scored a combined seven points on 1-of-18 shooting.
Yikes.
McCain struggled all night, hitting 1 of 10 shots and missing all five 3-pointers that he took. Williams hit the only 3-pointer among the group but missed six other attempts from behind the arc. But the biggest no-show was Caruso, who took just one shot, scored no points and the biggest number on his stat line was fouls (four).
The plus-minus of the Game 3 stars in Game 4: Caruso minus-22, McCain minus-13, Williams minus-11.
Their struggles might’ve been summed up late in the third quarter when Williams caught the ball at the top of the key. Wide open. No defender close. But his 3-point attempt not only missed but also missed everything.
Airball.
— Jenni Carlson, columnist
It wasn’t a fun game for the Thunder, but it sure did get off to a fun start.
The Thunder led 8-7 on a quartet of Isaiah Hartenstein floaters — the fluttering shot that his teammates celebrate by flapping their wings. Hartenstein floaters are only rivaled in altitude by Lu Dort 3-pointers.
After making his four shots, Hartenstein missed five of his next seven shots. His 12 points were second most on the team behind only SGA’s 19. Which, that was kind of the problem.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
More: OKC Thunder stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren make All-NBA teams
Jaylin Williams lined up a 3-pointer from the top of the arc.
Air ball.
The Thunder generated open 3-pointers. Hardly any of them dropped.
Kenrich Williams knocked down a pair of 3s in the third quarter to double the number of Thunder long-range makes from two to four.
OKC finished 6 of 33 (18%) from deep. The Spurs (9 of 33) weren’t much better.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
Devin Vassell jumped the pass and kicked ahead to Dylan Harper, who lobbed it to Stephon Castle for an alley-oop.
Mark Daigneault called timeout. Frost Bank Center rumbled. San Antonio’s lead grew to 22 points with 7:17 left in the third quarter.
Ball game.
The Thunder got Thundered in the turnover battle. The Spurs had a 25-13 advantage in points off turnovers. OKC turned it over 20 times.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
More: Thunder-Spurs has the NBA world buzzing. Here's what we can't stop talking about
The offense stunk, but the defense wasn’t bad.
The Spurs scored 103 points, a series low for them, and shot only 38.9% from the floor. They were just 35 of 90, including 9 of 33 from behind the arc. That’s 27.3% from deep, and it included a Victor Wembanyama half-court heave at the end of the first half.
That shot counts, of course, but holding San Antonio to 8-of-32 shooting in the halfcourt? That’s a good defensive night.
The Spurs also had 12 turnovers, and nine of those came via Thunder steals.
“It wasn’t like they shot lights out tonight,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “The game was won at the free-throw line, on the glass, in transition, and their execution in the halfcourt was better on both ends.
“Neither team shot it well, but they found more sustainable stuff than we did.”
— Jenni Carlson, columnist
More: People keep criticizing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's game, but it 'does nothing' to him
Thunder lovers won’t like to hear this, but Spurs fans have been a clever bunch when it comes to their roasting of Gilgeous-Alexander.
They started by coming up with a new chant for the back-to-back MVP. Instead of “Free-throw mer-chant,” they have embraced “Flopp-er.” They’ve gone all in. Here’s guessing it will catch on elsewhere.
But the San Antonio faithful have had some individual cleverness, too. A fan showed up to Game 3 encased in bubble wrap and sporting a No. 2 on his chest. Then Sunday at Game 4, a fan sitting courtside brought a trophy that looked a little like an Oscar.
You know, the one they give to great actors.
— Jenni Carlson, columnist
What can’t Jacob Tobey do? If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Tobey spent two years as a sports reporter (2018-20) for KJRH-2 News in Tulsa. Tobey is now the Spurs’ TV play-by-play man — the Chris Fisher of San Antonio.
Oh, and Tobey can sing. Sunday wasn’t the first time he sung the anthem at a Spurs game.
The Tulsa World’s Bill Haisten wrote a great story on Tobey.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at [email protected]. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Thunder-Spurs report card: OKC's SGA, bench struggle vs San Antonio
Continue reading...
San Antonio thumped Oklahoma City 103-82 on Sunday night to even these Western Conference Finals at two games apiece.
Let’s get to the grades.
TAKEAWAYS: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs smash Thunder in Game 4, even up Western Conference Finals
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: C+
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Rough night for the MVP.
He was really the Thunder’s only available creator with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell sidelined with injuries. That put lots of strain on Gilgeous-Alexander, and while he led the Thunder with 19 points, he also had almost as many turnovers (four) as made baskets (six).
He went 6 of 15 from the floor and missed the only 3-point attempt he took. If not for going 7 of 7 from the free-throw line, it would’ve been an even bigger struggle.
The best part of his night: seven assists.
— Jenni Carlson, columnist
Game 3 stars: F
Jared McCain, Jaylin Williams and Alex Caruso combined for 57 points on 19-of-35 shooting in Game 3.
In Game 4, they scored a combined seven points on 1-of-18 shooting.
Yikes.
McCain struggled all night, hitting 1 of 10 shots and missing all five 3-pointers that he took. Williams hit the only 3-pointer among the group but missed six other attempts from behind the arc. But the biggest no-show was Caruso, who took just one shot, scored no points and the biggest number on his stat line was fouls (four).
The plus-minus of the Game 3 stars in Game 4: Caruso minus-22, McCain minus-13, Williams minus-11.
Their struggles might’ve been summed up late in the third quarter when Williams caught the ball at the top of the key. Wide open. No defender close. But his 3-point attempt not only missed but also missed everything.
Airball.
— Jenni Carlson, columnist
Isaiah Hartenstein floaters: B+
It wasn’t a fun game for the Thunder, but it sure did get off to a fun start.
The Thunder led 8-7 on a quartet of Isaiah Hartenstein floaters — the fluttering shot that his teammates celebrate by flapping their wings. Hartenstein floaters are only rivaled in altitude by Lu Dort 3-pointers.
After making his four shots, Hartenstein missed five of his next seven shots. His 12 points were second most on the team behind only SGA’s 19. Which, that was kind of the problem.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
More: OKC Thunder stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren make All-NBA teams
3-point shooting: F
Jaylin Williams lined up a 3-pointer from the top of the arc.
Air ball.
The Thunder generated open 3-pointers. Hardly any of them dropped.
Kenrich Williams knocked down a pair of 3s in the third quarter to double the number of Thunder long-range makes from two to four.
OKC finished 6 of 33 (18%) from deep. The Spurs (9 of 33) weren’t much better.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
Forcing turnovers: D
Devin Vassell jumped the pass and kicked ahead to Dylan Harper, who lobbed it to Stephon Castle for an alley-oop.
Mark Daigneault called timeout. Frost Bank Center rumbled. San Antonio’s lead grew to 22 points with 7:17 left in the third quarter.
Ball game.
The Thunder got Thundered in the turnover battle. The Spurs had a 25-13 advantage in points off turnovers. OKC turned it over 20 times.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
More: Thunder-Spurs has the NBA world buzzing. Here's what we can't stop talking about
Defense: B-
The offense stunk, but the defense wasn’t bad.
The Spurs scored 103 points, a series low for them, and shot only 38.9% from the floor. They were just 35 of 90, including 9 of 33 from behind the arc. That’s 27.3% from deep, and it included a Victor Wembanyama half-court heave at the end of the first half.
That shot counts, of course, but holding San Antonio to 8-of-32 shooting in the halfcourt? That’s a good defensive night.
The Spurs also had 12 turnovers, and nine of those came via Thunder steals.
“It wasn’t like they shot lights out tonight,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “The game was won at the free-throw line, on the glass, in transition, and their execution in the halfcourt was better on both ends.
“Neither team shot it well, but they found more sustainable stuff than we did.”
— Jenni Carlson, columnist
More: People keep criticizing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's game, but it 'does nothing' to him
San Antonio fans’ cleverness: A
You must be registered for see images attach
Thunder lovers won’t like to hear this, but Spurs fans have been a clever bunch when it comes to their roasting of Gilgeous-Alexander.
They started by coming up with a new chant for the back-to-back MVP. Instead of “Free-throw mer-chant,” they have embraced “Flopp-er.” They’ve gone all in. Here’s guessing it will catch on elsewhere.
But the San Antonio faithful have had some individual cleverness, too. A fan showed up to Game 3 encased in bubble wrap and sporting a No. 2 on his chest. Then Sunday at Game 4, a fan sitting courtside brought a trophy that looked a little like an Oscar.
You know, the one they give to great actors.
— Jenni Carlson, columnist
Jacob Tobey national anthem: A
What can’t Jacob Tobey do? If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Tobey spent two years as a sports reporter (2018-20) for KJRH-2 News in Tulsa. Tobey is now the Spurs’ TV play-by-play man — the Chris Fisher of San Antonio.
Oh, and Tobey can sing. Sunday wasn’t the first time he sung the anthem at a Spurs game.
The Tulsa World’s Bill Haisten wrote a great story on Tobey.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at [email protected]. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Thunder-Spurs report card: OKC's SGA, bench struggle vs San Antonio
Continue reading...
