Gilgeous-Alexander scores 32, Thunder move one win from Finals return

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did not start fast, but once he settled in, Oklahoma City looked every bit like a team built for more than a single playoff surge. The Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 in Game 5 on Tuesday night to move within one victory of a second straight NBA Finals trip, taking a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals.

For Oklahoma City, the win was about more than the score line. The Thunder had been held to 82 points in Game 4, then matched that total again before the third quarter was 3 1/2 minutes old in Game 5. Coach Mark Daigneault said the Thunder "played a lot better" in terms of process and outcome, and the response showed why Oklahoma City has spent the spring looking less like a hot run and more like a durable power.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 32 points and nine assists, his highest-scoring game of the series, after working through an uneven opening. The supporting cast was even more telling. Alex Caruso scored 22 points off the bench, Jared McCain added 20 in his first playoff start with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell sidelined, Chet Holmgren posted 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Isaiah Hartenstein supplied 12 points and 15 rebounds. The Thunder did not lean on one burst or one rotation; they spread the load and controlled the game with size, pace and depth.

San Antonio had stretches of resistance, but Victor Wembanyama was limited to 20 points, six rebounds and two blocks while shooting 4-for-15. Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 24 points, Julian Champagnie added 22, and San Antonio missed 29 of 41 3-point attempts. That cold shooting helped Oklahoma City pull away and left the Spurs chasing from a deficit that kept widening.

The series now shifts back to San Antonio for Game 6 on Thursday, with Game 7, if needed, set for Saturday in Oklahoma City. The Knicks are waiting for the winner in the NBA Finals, with Game 1 scheduled for June 3. History also leaned toward the Thunder, with the home team in Game 5 of a 2-2 best-of-seven series advancing 73.1% of the time.

Oklahoma City is the defending NBA champion after winning the 2025 title, and another Finals appearance would give Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren, Hartenstein and Caruso a chance to defend it. One win from that stage, the Thunder have turned this series into a test of staying power, and they answered it with a roster wide enough to keep coming.