Thunder vs. Spurs: Five big questions that will decide the Western Conference Finals
The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are set to face off in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, marking the emergence of a potential long-term NBA rivalry. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring output and the teams' respective bench depth will be critical factors in determining the series outcome. Both teams rely heavily on perimeter shooting, especially as Victor Wembanyama's defensive presence alters interior scoring dynamics.
- ▪Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 29.1 points per game in the playoffs but may need to approach 30 PPG to lead OKC past the Spurs.
- ▪The Thunder and Spurs both boast deep rosters, with the Spurs having six players averaging double-digit points so far in the playoffs.
- ▪Chet Holmgren struggled against Victor Wembanyama during the regular season, averaging 10.5 points on 38.7% shooting.
- ▪Ajay Mitchell has been a key contributor for the Thunder in the playoffs, helping them outscore opponents during his minutes.
- ▪San Antonio’s perimeter depth, including Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle, gives them a slight edge in non-star production.
4 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 14 hours. Coverage spans 2 points on the political spectrum — 2 centre, 1 right.
- ▪ Spurs vs. Thunder series preview: Western Conference Finals picks, odds, bets — New York Post
- ▪ Western Conference Finals Predictions: Game by Game Picks for Spurs vs Thunder — Yahoo Sports
- ▪ Spurs win to move into Western Conference finals — BBC Sport
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| Original publisher | CBS Sports |
| Canonical URL | https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/thunder-spurs-five-big-questions/ |
| Publication time | Sat, 16 May 2026 18:53:09 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-16T19:10:19.020Z |
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Thunder vs. Spurs: Five big questions that will decide the Western Conference Finals The NBA's next great rivalry has officially arrived, and a trip to the Finals is on the line for the Spurs and Thunder By Brad Botkin May 16, 2026 at 2:53 pm ET • 6 min read Getty Images The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are about to square off for the 2026 Western Conference crown, and with that, the NBA's next great rivalry has officially arrived. We've known it was coming. We know it's not going anywhere for maybe the next decade as set up as these teams are for the long run. This will be absolute theatre. Let's get into five big questions heading into the series we've all been waiting for. 1.
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