San Antonio’s stunning rise continues as Victor Wembanyama leads a Game 7 triumph to set up a Finals showdown with the Knicks
The San Antonio Spurs are back on basketball’s biggest stage. Eleven years after their last NBA Finals appearance, a new generation has carried the franchise back into the spotlight, led by the extraordinary talent of Victor Wembanyama.
On a tense night in Oklahoma City, the Spurs stunned the defending champion Thunder 111-103 in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. It was a victory built on resilience, teamwork, and the brilliance of a young star who continues to redefine expectations.
Wembanyama finished with 22 points and seven rebounds, earning Western Conference Finals MVP honors as San Antonio completed one of the league’s most remarkable turnarounds. Just one season ago, the Spurs failed to make the playoffs and finished near the bottom of the conference. Now, they are four wins away from an NBA title.
“This feeling, I can’t explain it,” Wembanyama said. “It’s so powerful.”
The French sensation was not alone. Julian Champagnie produced one of the performances of his career, scoring 20 points and knocking down six three-pointers. Stephon Castle added 16 points, while De’Aaron Fox chipped in with 15 as seven Spurs players reached double figures.
The numbers highlighted what has become San Antonio’s greatest strength. While Oklahoma City leaned heavily on individual brilliance, the Spurs won through collective effort. They shot 42.5 percent from beyond the arc and consistently found answers whenever the Thunder threatened a comeback.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did everything he could to keep Oklahoma City alive. The league superstar poured in 35 points and added nine assists, but the Thunder never managed to seize control during the second half.
One of the defining moments arrived midway through the fourth quarter. Reserve center Luke Kornet, who struggled offensively all night, produced a crucial block on Isaiah Hartenstein at the rim. The play prevented Oklahoma City from cutting the deficit to four and drained momentum from the home crowd.
It felt like the final turning point.
“We have a good team, great team, if you will,” Champagnie said. “We love this. We love this.”
For Spurs coach Mitch Johnson, the result was the reward for months of belief. “Back in October, we knew we had a chance to be pretty good,” he said. “The players did what they’ve been doing all year and they met the biggest moment.”
Now comes the final challenge. The Spurs will face the New York Knicks in a Finals matchup that revives memories of the 1999 championship series won by San Antonio.
Wembanyama knows the job is not finished.
“They don’t even know how much I love them,” he said of his teammates. “We want four more.”
