Thunder vs. Spurs Game 7: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Poised for the Biggest Game of His Career
The Oklahoma City Thunder will face a season-defining Game 7 against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday in Oklahoma City after being routed 118-91 in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals. Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander acknowledged the stakes, saying the matchup is “win or go home” and describing it as the biggest game of his career. Oklahoma City, the defending NBA champion, is trying to become the first team since the 2018 Golden State Warriors to repeat.
Despite the heavy loss, the Thunder kept a positive mood in the locker room, reflecting the chemistry that has carried them through the season. Guard Cason Wallace said the team has always stayed together, even under pressure. Oklahoma City also has recent experience in high-stakes playoff games, having won Game 7s against Denver in the 2025 Western Conference semifinals and Indiana in the 2025 NBA Finals to claim the franchise’s first title since relocating from Seattle in 2008. The Thunder are 6-1 at home this postseason, a sign that could help in Game 7.
Injuries remain a concern for Oklahoma City. Forward Jalen Williams, who returned briefly from a hamstring injury in Game 6, will not play in Game 7. Guard Ajay Mitchell is also considered unlikely to return. Gilgeous-Alexander said he feels prepared mentally and physically and expects to respond to the pressure with the same approach that has defined the Thunder’s season.
The Spurs, meanwhile, enter Game 7 with momentum and little postseason baggage. Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox are seeking to send San Antonio to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014, when the franchise won its fifth championship. The Spurs are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2019, and this is the first Game 7 for most of their current roster. Fox said the team knows what it wants to do and believes it can win if it executes its game plan.
Wembanyama has approached the series with a businesslike mentality, emphasizing desperation and discipline as keys to eliminating mistakes. San Antonio’s Game 6 win was handled without celebration, underscoring the team’s focus on the next step.
While the Western Conference finalists battle for a Finals berth, the New York Knicks are already waiting in the NBA Finals after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East. The Knicks will have eight days off before Game 1 on June 3, with center Mitchell Robinson expected to return despite a broken right pinkie finger.
Gilgeous-Alexander has struggled by his standards in the series, scoring 15 points in Game 6 and shooting below 38 percent in the conference finals. Still, the Thunder guard says he will trust his game and live with the results. Wallace and the rest of the Thunder believe he is ready for another signature performance when it matters most.
