Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs secured a thrilling 111-103 win in Oklahoma City to dethrone the defending champions and secure a place in the NBA Finals.
Conference Finals MVP Wembanyama scored 22 points and Julian Champagnie got 18 of his 20 off of 3-pointers as the youthful Spurs defied heavy odds to win a Game 7 on the road.
Stephon Castle scored 16 points and De’Aaron Fox had 15. Dylan Harper added 12 as Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell each finished with 11 for the Spurs, who are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.
They will host the New York Knicks in Game 1 on Wednesday night (1.30am Thursday UK time).
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Highlights from Game 4 of the Western Conference finals between San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama walks over to Spurs fans as he holds his MVP trophy
A huge moment came midway through the fourth, when San Antonio’s Luke Kornet blocked Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Hartenstein at the rim – denying a fast-break score that would have gotten the Thunder within four.
It felt like the last gasp for the Thunder. Kornet played six minutes, missed all three of his shot attempts and finished with only two points, but the block was an epic moment.
The victory caps a remarkably quick turnaround for the Spurs, who are Western Conference champions having missed out on the playoffs entirely last season, finishing third bottom in the conference.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points and nine assists, but for the eighth consecutive season the NBA will have a new champion. Cason Wallace scored 17 points, while Jared McCain and Alex Caruso had 12 apiece for the Thunder.
“Back in October, we knew we had a chance to be pretty good,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “The players did what they’ve been doing all year and they met the biggest moment.”
“This feeling, I can’t explain it,” Wembanyama said. “It’s so powerful.”
“We want four more – we’re not done.”
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