The Western Conference Finals delivered an instant classic in Game 1 on Monday night, as the San Antonio Spurs outlasted the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in a double-overtime thriller. Despite the Thunder entering as heavy favourites following a week of rest, Victor Wembanyama’s historic 41-point, 24-rebound performance stole home-court advantage. 

Oklahoma City, the regular season’s top defensive unit, now faces a must-win scenario to avoid a 2-0 hole before the series shifts to Texas. With the Spurs proving they can win without All-Star De’Aaron Fox, the pressure has shifted entirely to the defending champions to find an offensive rhythm.

Spurs vs. Thunder NBA Betting Odds

Bettors should note that while the Spurs won Game 1, they are 6.5-point underdogs again for Game 2 on the NBA odds. San Antonio has now defeated OKC in five of six meetings this season, yet the market still favours the Thunder’s depth. 

A key trend to watch is the under; despite Game 1 reaching 237 total points, which required two extra periods. In regulation, these clubs struggled to score against elite defensive pressure. The Under even survived the first overtime period in Game 1. 

The Spurs currently lead the NBA in playoff defensive rating, while the Thunder are masters at forcing turnovers and limiting free-throw attempts.

San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio showed incredible grit in the opener, especially with De’Aaron Fox being a late scratch due to a lingering ankle injury. In his place, rookie Dylan Harper made history, joining Magic Johnson as the only rookies to post a 20-point, 10-rebound, five-assist, and five-steal playoff game. 

The Spurs’ starting lineup was the youngest in conference finals history, averaging just under 23 years of age. While Fox’s status for Game 2 remains murky, the Spurs’ identity is firmly established. They limited the Thunder to 40.6 per cent shooting in Game 1 and will likely focus on interior containment again.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City had a night to forget offensively, despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander receiving his second consecutive MVP trophy pre-game. SGA finished a team-worst -15 in 51 minutes, shooting a cold seven-of-23 from the floor. Chet Holmgren also struggled to find his shot against Wembanyama’s length, managing only eight points. 

To bounce back, the Thunder must capitalize on the Wemby-off minutes; OKC was highly efficient (10-of-16) when the Frenchman rested but struggled (16-of-50) when he was on the floor. Expect a more aggressive Jalen Williams to help take the scoring burden off Alex Caruso, who yet again stepped up, doing whatever it takes to help his team win, dropping 31 points off the bench with eight made threes. For stretches of the game, Caruso was the Thunder’s offence.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Spurs vs. Thunder Game 2?

While the Spurs proved they are more than a legitimate threat, Victor Wembanyama played a career-high 49 minutes in Game 1 and looked visibly gassed. With only one day of rest and the potential absence of Fox, expect San Antonio to manage Wembanyama’s minutes more cautiously to preserve him for a long series. 

The Spurs have done what they have needed to at OKC, and the Thunder are too disciplined to drop two straight at home and should find their shooting touch. Look for SGA to bounce back from his inefficient opener and for OKC to tighten its perimeter defence to even the series.

Best Bet: Thunder -6.5 (-110)

SPURS

Away

99

THUNDER

Home

108

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