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Victor Wembanyama posts 28 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks as the San Antonio Spurs rout the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-91 to force a Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals
NBA: Victor Wembanyama stars as San Antonio Spurs beat Oklahoma City Thunder (AP)
Victor Wembanyama delivered a dominant all-round performance as the San Antonio Spurs crushed the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-91 on Thursday night to force a winner-takes-all Game 7 in the NBA Western Conference Finals.
Facing elimination, the Spurs responded with urgency and intensity from the opening tip, energised by a roaring home crowd and determined to keep their NBA Finals dream alive. Wembanyama starred with 28 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, while Dylan Harper added 18 points off the bench as San Antonio levelled the best-of-seven series at 3-3.
San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder – How It Happened?
“We ain’t done nothing yet,” said Wembanyama, who finished with 10 rebounds and three blocks.
“When your back’s against the wall, it feels like it’s the best opportunity,” he added.
After struggling in Game 5, the 7-foot-4 French sensation came out firing in the do-or-die contest. Wembanyama knocked down two early three-pointers, swatted away a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander layup attempt and helped the Spurs race to a quick 9-2 lead.
Saint Anthony’s aggressive defence completely disrupted Oklahoma City’s rhythm. Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 32 points in the previous game, was held to just 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting as the Thunder laboured on offence.
The defining stretch came in the third quarter, when the Spurs produced a devastating scoring run that effectively ended the contest. Oklahoma City went scoreless for more than seven minutes and missed 13 consecutive field-goal attempts as San Antonio blew the game wide open.
“Tonight was do or die, and a lot of fans are going to be happy,” said Spurs coach Mitch Johnson.
He vowed his team would be “ready to go into a hostile environment” against the defending champions, and expects Oklahoma City to bring “their best punch” in Game 7.
“We’re gonna go with our eyes wide open and expecting nothing less,” he said.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault admitted his side fell well short of expectations.
“When you lose the way we did tonight, there’s a lot more we could have done, that’s what we’ll look at,” he said.
Game 7 will now take place in Oklahoma City on Saturday, with the winner advancing to face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.
(With inputs from Agencies)
Los Angeles, United States of America (USA)
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