NBA Playoffs: OKC Thunder vs SA Spurs 20/05/2026

Victor Wembanyama already showed in the very first game just how big of a problem he is for Oklahoma City Thunder, and based on everything we’ve seen, it’s hard to expect that the Thunder will find an answer to his dominance on the boards and physical superiority in the paint as the series progresses.

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The reigning champions have run into a very tough opponent in the Western Conference Finals. Oklahoma lost all four regular-season matchups against San Antonio Spurs, and it’s now clear that wasn’t a coincidence. The Spurs have once again shown they possess a style of play and player profile that simply doesn’t suit the Thunder, and it looks like Oklahoma will have to work extremely hard if they want another NBA Finals appearance.

Game 1 of the series has already been labeled one of the best playoff games in recent years, with Wembanyama as the undisputed hero of the night. The French superstar delivered a performance that further confirms why many see him as the future face of the league for the next decade. In a game that went to double overtime, he spent nearly 49 minutes on the floor and set playoff career highs with 41 points and 24 rebounds. His deep three-pointer late in the first overtime will be especially remembered, as it essentially bought the Spurs another chance and forced an additional five minutes of play.

His combination of height, mobility, and ability to attack facing the basket caused massive problems for Oklahoma’s defense. The Thunder’s coach was forced to significantly reduce the minutes of Isaiah Hartenstein, who played only 12 minutes as he simply couldn’t keep up with Wembanyama’s style. It seems likely that Oklahoma will rely much more on smaller, quicker lineups going forward, with Alex Caruso expected to spend significant time at center again—similar to how he was used against Nikola Jokić in last year’s playoffs.

Wembanyama may not repeat the same scoring explosion in Game 2, but the matchup remains highly favorable for him in terms of rebounding. The Thunder simply lack the size and physical presence to consistently control him under the rim, and any attempt to switch or go small only creates more space for him to dominate inside. Oklahoma will have to sacrifice something in this matchup, and it’s very possible that rebounding control will be the area that suffers the most due to adjustments made to contain Wembanyama.