The San Antonio SpursTeam·San Antonio Spurs responded emphatically to their Game 3 loss, securing a dominant 103-82 victory over the Oklahoma City ThunderTeam·Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. Playing at the Frost Bank CenterVenue·Frost Bank Center, San Antonio controlled the contest from the outset, ensuring the series returns to Oklahoma City tied at 2-2.
San Antonio established an early lead, outscoring the Thunder 28-19 in the first quarter and maintaining their advantage with a 22-19 second quarter. This consistent pressure allowed the Spurs to build a significant halftime lead, a stark contrast to the momentum shifts seen in earlier games. They continued their strong play in the second half, winning the third quarter 28-22 and the fourth 25-22, never relinquishing control.
The victory is particularly significant for the Spurs, who finished the regular season as the second seed in the Western Conference with a 62-20 record. Avoiding a 3-1 series hole against the top-seeded Thunder, who boasted a 64-18 regular season record and are the defending NBA champions, was paramount. The Thunder had previously swept both the Phoenix SunsTeam·Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles LakersTeam·Los Angeles Lakers in the earlier rounds of the 2026 playoffs, showcasing their formidable postseason form.
Spurs head coach Mitch JohnsonCoach·Mitch Johnson saw key players De'Aaron FoxPlayer·De'Aaron Fox and Dylan HarperPlayer·Dylan Harper contribute despite recent injury concerns. Fox, who missed the first two games of the series, played 31 minutes in Game 3, contributing 15 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Harper also featured in Game 3, scoring six points in 17 minutes while managing an adductor issue. Both players were expected to play in Game 4, providing crucial depth for San Antonio.
For the Oklahoma City ThunderTeam·Oklahoma City Thunder, guard Ajay MitchellPlayer·Ajay Mitchell remained out with a calf strain, and Jalen WilliamsPlayer·Jalen Williams was officially questionable for Game 4 due to a left hamstring issue, having missed Game 3. The absence of key rotational players potentially impacted the Thunder's offensive rhythm and defensive rotations, especially against a determined Spurs squad.
A critical factor highlighted in the series has been the performance differential when Victor WembanyamaPlayer·Victor Wembanyama is on and off the court for the Spurs. San Antonio had been +21 in 125 minutes with Wembanyama on the floor in the Western Conference Finals but -38 in the 29 minutes he was off. This underscores his profound impact on both ends of the court, and his presence was undoubtedly central to the Spurs' Game 4 success.
Following their Game 3 loss, Victor WembanyamaPlayer·Victor Wembanyama acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating, "We're going to see what we're made of." The Spurs delivered on that sentiment in Game 4, demonstrating resilience and competitive fire. The Thunder's bench, which outscored San Antonio's reserves 76-23 in Game 3, faced a more challenging outing as the Spurs' overall team performance elevated.
The series now shifts back to Oklahoma City for Game 5, with both teams having proven capable of winning on their home courts. The momentum gained by San Antonio in this decisive Game 4 sets the stage for a compelling conclusion to the Western Conference Finals.
SERIES TIED · 2-2 (Western Conference Finals)
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