By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back from a Game 1 loss to defeat the San Antonio Spurs, 122–113, in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, on Wednesday night at Paycom Center.
Dominating large stretches of the physical contest, French superstar Victor Wembanyama ended up with a versatile stat line, packing 21 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, four blocks, and one steal in 37 minutes of action.
Matching up against him on the opposite end, Germany’s Isaiah Hartenstein provided an energetic interior presence, posting a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double alongside three assists. Belgian reserve Ajay Mitchell provided a massive spark to tally ten points, four steals, two assists, and one block. Serbian guard Nikola Topic did not see game action.
Both rosters had to adjust to significant lineup absences, with the Spurs forced to play without De’Aaron Fox, who was ruled out just before tip-off as he continues to recover from a persistent right ankle injury that also sidelined him for Game 1. The team coached by Mitch Johnson also suffered a critical blow when Dylan Harper was forced to an early exit after sustaining a right leg injury in the third quarter. Meanwhile, the Thunder suffered a major scare when wing Jalen Williams aggravated a lingering left hamstring injury in the first quarter, ruling him out for the remainder of the game after just seven minutes of play.
Despite losing J-Dub, the hosts controlled Game 2 after surviving 14 early lead changes, building a double-digit cushion in the third quarter and holding off a late push to tie the best-of-seven series at 1–1 before Game 3 in San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center on Friday. The Most Valuable Player of the 2025-26 Regular Season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, scored a game-high 30 points.
NBA Playoffs 2026
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic 4-3 (101-112, 98-83, 105-113, 88-94, 116-109, 93-79, 116-94)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 4-3 (126-113, 115-105, 104-126, 89-93, 125-120, 110-112, 114-102)
New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks 4-2 (113-102, 106-107, 108-109, 114-98, 126-97, 140-89)
Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers 3-4 (123-91, 97-111, 108-100, 128-96, 97-113, 93-106, 100-109)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
Detroit Pistons – Cleveland Cavaliers 3-4 (111-101, 107-97, 109-116, 103-112, 113-117, 115-94, 94-125)
New York Knicks – Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 (137-98, 108-102, 108-94, 144-114)
Finals (best-of-seven)
New York Knicks – Cleveland Cavaliers 1-0 (115-104)
Western Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns 4-0 (119-84, 120-107, 121-109, 131-122)
Los Angeles Lakers – Houston Rockets 4-2 (107-98, 101-94, 112-108, 96-115, 93-99, 98-78)
Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 2-4 (126-115, 114-119, 96-113, 96-112, 125-113, 98-110)
San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 (111-98, 103-106, 120-108, 114-93, 114-95)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 (108-90, 125-107, 131-108, 115-110)
San Antonio Spurs – Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2 (102-104, 133-95, 115-108, 109-114, 126-97, 139-109)
Finals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – San Antonio Spurs 1-1 (115-122, 122-113)
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions