The San Antonio Spurs ended the Oklahoma City Thunder's reign as NBA champions with a decisive victory in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, earning their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2014. The Spurs, who had not reached the Finals in over a decade, dominated the defending champions on their home court, winning by a score of 112-98 on Saturday night.
Victor Wembanyama led the charge with 34 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks, while veteran point guard Chris Paul added 18 points and 12 assists. The Spurs' defense stifled the Thunder's high-powered offense, holding MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to just 22 points on 7-of-20 shooting.
"I'm incredibly proud of this group," said Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. "We faced a lot of adversity this season, but these guys never stopped believing. We're not done yet."
The Thunder, who were seeking back-to-back titles, struggled to find rhythm offensively. Despite a strong third-quarter push, they could not overcome the Spurs' balanced attack.
San Antonio will face the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks. Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for Thursday.