Wemby's 27% Shooting Just Landed the Thunder One Win From the NBA Finals

HOLY MOLY, you guys! If you weren't glued to the screen Tuesday night, you missed a playoff classic that felt like the entire Western Conference finals just swung HARD! The Oklahoma City Thunder absolutely came out firing, beating the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 to grab a commanding 3-2 series lead. They are now just ONE win away from punching their ticket to the NBA Finals, and honestly, after that performance, they look unstoppable. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 32 points, but it was the role players, especially Alex Caruso and rookie Jared McCain, who truly stepped up and made the Spurs look lost. This defending NBA champion Thunder team is ready to go back to the biggest stage!

The Thunder's Bench Just Blew Up the Box Score

You know how much we love seeing players step up when it matters most, right? And Tuesday night, OKC's bench absolutely delivered. Alex Caruso was on fire, leading that second unit with a massive 22 points. That's his fifth 20-point game in the last two postseasons, proving this dude is built for the playoffs! Then there's Jared McCain, making his first playoff start with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell sidelined, and he just went off for 20 points! He's been hitting those momentum-swinging three-pointers all series, and his defensive game was locked in too, holding Spurs players to just 4-of-14 shooting as their primary defender. Talk about a breakout performance!

But it wasn't just the bench. Chet Holmgren pulled down a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Isaiah Hartenstein had a monster 12-point, 15-rebound night, and get this, he was the primary defender holding Victor Wembanyama to a shocking 27% from the field. Remember how they only scored 82 points in Game 4? Well, on Tuesday, they had 82 points before the third quarter was even three and a half minutes old! Thunder coach Mark Daigneault nailed it saying they "played a lot better" and that this team does a "great job of just coming back in the next day in a very neutral way, taking whatever the lessons are, applying them forward and getting into the next opportunity." This team is disciplined, and it showed. They scored 40 points in the second quarter alone to take control, and they never looked back.

Wemby's Tough Night and Spurs on the Brink

On the other side of the court, the Spurs had a rough one. Even superstar Victor Wembanyama struggled, managing 20 points but on a tough 4-of-15 shooting. That 27% line? That's just brutal for a player of his caliber in a must-win Game 5. Stephon Castle led San Antonio with 24 points, and Julian Champagnie added 22, but the team's overall shooting was abysmal, especially from beyond the arc. They missed a staggering 29 of their 41 three-point attempts! That's just not going to cut it against a team fighting for a Finals spot. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson was clear, saying they "did not put ourselves in position enough to be successful on each possession," and that they'll "need to be a lot better to give yourself a chance."

So, what's next? The Thunder are now one win away from the NBA Finals, baby! Game 6 is set for Thursday in San Antonio. You know the energy, the stakes, the raw emotion of needing to close out a series on the road. If the Spurs somehow force it, Game 7 would be back in Oklahoma City on Saturday. The New York Knicks are already waiting to face the winner in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3. Can the Thunder finish it Thursday and head back to the Finals? You know we'll be watching every single play!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.