NBA: Thunder On Brink Of Finals After Game 5 Comeback

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bounced back from a rough beginning to drop 32 points, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder past the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 and putting them just one victory away from a second straight trip to the NBA Finals.

Gilgeous-Alexander opened Game 5 of the Western Conference finals in Oklahoma City by missing his first four shots. But he quickly turned things around with five points in a row, helping the Thunder erase an early eight-point deficit.

Oklahoma City led by 11 at halftime, then opened the third quarter on a 9-0 run to take command and go up 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.

The two-time MVP shot just 7-for-19 from the floor but made 16 of 17 free throws. “If there were four or five of me out there, we’d have been down 20 after the first quarter,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I probably shouldn’t start like that again.”

Jared McCain replaced Cason Wallace in the lineup and, after a shaky start, poured in 18 points after halftime to finish with 20. Alex Caruso responded from a scoreless Game 4 with 22 points.

Spurs Victor Wembanyama put up 20 points and six rebounds. After pulling down 20.5 rebounds per game in the first two games of the series, he’s managed just 18 total over the last three.

Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 24 points, while Julian Champagnie added 22.

The Thunder can clinch their Finals berth with a win in Game 6 on Thursday evening in San Antonio (01:30 Friday). The New York Knicks have already punched their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 in the Eastern Conference finals.