Tactical control and the early edge
Oklahoma City win the fifth game of the series. The scoreboard reads 127 to 114. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finishes with 32 points. Coach Mark Daigneault tweaks his starting five. Jared McCain is inserted into the opening lineup. Chet Holmgren adds 16 points. San Antonio start sharper on offence. Julian Champagnie knocks down 13 quick points. The first quarter ends with the home side in front. The score stands at 29 to 27. Victor Wembanyama totals 20 points for the night. The Frenchman makes just four of 15 shots.
The numbers start to tilt and possessions are managed
Oklahoma City turn up the defensive heat. Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper keep coughing up the ball. Cason Wallace cashes in on those giveaways. The gap quickly widens. The starting centre has little impact on offence. San Antonio respond briefly. Keldon Johnson strings together a scoring burst. Oklahoma City hit back with another punishing run. The score reaches 69 to 58 at half-time.
The deficit holds and the structure stays intact
The third quarter keeps the same pattern going. Jared McCain helps keep the gap under control. The centre ramps up the physical battle in the paint. San Antonio trim the deficit for a spell. Isaiah Hartenstein hauls in a string of offensive rebounds. The Thunder go into the final period with a 10-point lead. The finish confirms Oklahoma City’s superiority. San Antonio’s staff are left to accept a ticket to the NBA Finals.
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The breakdown and the statistical red flags
The data points to plenty of flaws. Shot selection badly hurts the side. Their first make inside the arc does not come until nine full minutes have gone. San Antonio manage only 18 points in the paint in the first half. The backcourt trio posts a grim line. De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper combine for 7 makes from 31 attempts. The coaching staff have serious work to do on spacing and roles. The next playoff clash will be played in San Antonio.
Photo by Christian Petersen / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
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