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The shocking stat that turned the Spurs series — Thunder’s bench dominance
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- The shocking stat that turned the Spurs series — Thunder’s bench dominance
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Oklahoma City 's 122-113 win over San Antonio in Game 2 wasn't just about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 's 30 points or the series being levelled at 1-1.
The real difference came from the bench, where the Thunder outscored the Spurs reserves 57-25, flipping what happened in Game 1.
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The opener was defined by San Antonio staying close enough to let Victor Wembanyama take over late. But this time, Oklahoma City played more to their strengths. The Thunder got extra shooting, picked up the pace and saw enough defensive activity from their support group to keep things open for their stars.
Oklahoma City didn't need anyone to take over this game on their own. Alex Caruso put up 17 points off the bench, Cason Wallace hit four threes on his way to 12 points, and Jared McCain matched him with another 12. Isaiah Hartenstein rounded it out with 10 points and 13 boards as part of that second-unit push.
That kind of support allows Gilgeous-Alexander to play through the flow of the game, rather than having to force every possession.
Caruso's performance stood out most: 5-of-7 shooting, 3-of-4 from deep, five assists and a team-high plus-18 in 25 minutes. That is more than just scoring. It is what holds a lineup together.
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The Thunder had to adapt quickly when Jalen Williams left late in the first quarter with hamstring tightness. Wallace filled the gap well, ball movement stayed sharp, and Oklahoma City kept finding ways to score down the stretch.
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images
San Antonio's lack of depth comes into focus
San Antonio's star power is obvious, but the difference in bench production during Game 2 was hard to ignore.
De'Aaron Fox missed his second straight game with an ankle issue, forcing the starters to play heavier minutes and shrinking Mitch Johnson's rotation. San Antonio can cope when Wembanyama has control, but that gets harder when Oklahoma City consistently wins the stretches when he sits.
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It didn't help that Dylan Harper left in the third quarter with a right leg injury. The Spurs were already asking a lot from both Harper and Stephon Castle in terms of playmaking, and losing another guard only exposed how thin they were.
Harper showed promise in Game 1, but relying on rookie guards to hold up against Oklahoma City's depth is another matter entirely.
Oklahoma City didn't need any one player to take over. Alex Caruso provided 17 points off the bench, Cason Wallace hit four threes on his way to 12 points, and Jared McCain also added 12. Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in with a double-double, finishing with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
That kind of depth meant Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could let the game come to him rather than forcing things offensively.
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Caruso was especially effective: 5-of-7 shooting, 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, five assists and a team-best plus-18 in his 25 minutes. It was more than just scoring – it was the kind of play that keeps everything connected.
The Thunder also had to make some quick adjustments after Jalen Williams left late in the first quarter with hamstring tightness. Wallace stepped up, ball movement continued, and Oklahoma City still found enough offence to close it out.
Spurs feel the pressure without depth
San Antonio has elite talent at the top end of its roster, but Game 2 made it clear how much they rely on their starters compared to Oklahoma City's depth. Victor Wembanyama again led the way with 31 points and Stephon Castle added another 28.
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Darius Garland chipped in with a strong showing of his own: a double-double that included eight assists. But outside those three, only Robert Dillingham reached double figures for San Antonio.
The Thunder were getting better looks off ball movement compared to Game 1 when Wembanyama had too much influence inside defensively. They did not allow Shai's off-ball minutes or bench stretches for Williams to slow down what they wanted to do offensively.
The defending Western Conference champions looked like themselves again by playing through multiple weapons instead of waiting around for one hero possession after another.
Injuries set up Game 3 as a depth battle
With Game 3 scheduled for May 22 in San Antonio, both teams are facing injury concerns that could impact how their rotations look.
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Williams will undergo more testing on his left hamstring, the same issue that had him sidelined earlier in the playoffs. Mark Daigneault declined to offer any predictions about his status, noting that it's up to the medical staff to determine what comes next.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander admitted that losing Williams would be a blow but pointed out that the team has shown they can win without him before. The Thunder's bench was able to swing Game 2 in their favour, which backs up that belief.
The Spurs have a different kind of problem. Fox is still listed as day-to-day, and with Harper now dealing with an injury too, there are even more questions in the backcourt. That increases the burden on Castle, Devin Vassell and Wembanyama to create offence if others remain unavailable.
After Game 1, it looked like San Antonio's top-end talent and physicality had the edge. But following Game 2, the bigger question is whether the Spurs have enough offensive depth beyond their starters, especially if Fox's ankle remains an issue.
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Oklahoma City already knew it could win behind Gilgeous-Alexander. Game 2 showed that the supporting cast can change the series too. If that continues, San Antonio will need more than another Wembanyama masterpiece to regain control.
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