Wembanyama’s 41-24 double-double powers Spurs past Thunder in West finals opener

Victor Wembanyama recorded 41 points and 24 rebounds, Dylan Harper added 24 points and a team playoff-record seven steals, and the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in a double-overtime thriller Monday night to open the Western Conference finals.

Wembanyama sealed the victory with two dunks in the final minute, one converting into a three-point play, as the Spurs stole home-court advantage and beat the Thunder for the fifth time in six meetings this season.

Stephon Castle contributed 17 points, Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson each scored 13, and Julian Champagnie added 11 for the Spurs, who played without De’Aaron Fox due to ankle stiffness.

“A great effort from everybody,” said Wembanyama, who at 22 years and 134 days became the youngest player with at least 40 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game.

“The best player in the … world,” Castle told NBC after the game when asked about Wembanyama.

The Frenchman was asked if he agrees with Castle’s assessment. “The world is eight billion people,” Wembanyama said. “That’s eight billion opinions.”

Alex Caruso scored 31 points, the second-highest scoring game of his career, off the bench for the Thunder, whose nine-game playoff winning streak dating to Game 7 of last season’s NBA finals was snapped.

Jalen Williams returned from a six-game absence caused by a hamstring strain and scored 26 points for the Thunder, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – on the night he received his second straight Most Valuable Player trophy – had 24 points and 12 assists but shot 7 for 23 and struggled for long stretches, admitting after the game that he “had to be better”.

Asked whether watching Gilgeous-Alexander win the award served as motivation, Wembanyama said, “Yeah, for sure.”

It was the sixth Game 1 in NBA playoff history to go into double overtime – the first since a Spurs-Warriors game in 2013.

“It was a war of wills,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “The levels of mental toughness exuded by both teams … we needed every second from everybody that played.”

Wembanyama’s final line was 14 for 25 from the field, 12 for 13 from the foul line, and his lone three-pointer came late in the first overtime, tying the game from well beyond the arc. Without that shot, there probably would have been no second overtime.

“Confidence through the roof,” Harper said of the importance of Wembanyama’s long three. “I was kind of stunned a little bit. But once the ball went up, I’m like, ’Oh, it’s going in.’ It’s kind of just who he is.”

Wembanyama blocked three shots and changed countless others. He dunked on the Thunder and flexed, more than once. The Spurs outrebounded the Thunder 61-40. Wembanyama even smiled and posed for the cameras at times. This was his first conference finals game, on the road no less, and he was as comfortable as could be.

“I think he’s a great player with high impact obviously, and when you play against those players it’s kind of an acquired thing,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “You’re learning as you go. We’ve gone through that with other great players.” Game 2 is Wednesday at Oklahoma City.