Well, folks, it happened. The San Antonio Spurs, led by the human highlight reel that is Victor Wembanyama, just punched their ticket to the NBA Finals. They rolled into Oklahoma City, took Game 7 from the reigning champions, the Thunder, and are now officially back on the biggest stage for the first time since 2014. If you had that on your bingo card back in October, congratulations — you're either a prophet or a very dedicated Spurs fan.
Wemby himself dropped 22 points, because of course he did. But the real unsung hero of the evening might have been Julian Champagnie, who decided to rain down 18 points from beyond the arc, adding up to a cool 20 for the night. The final score: Spurs 111, Thunder 103. "This feeling, I can't explain it," Wembanyama said. Which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying coming from a man who regularly defies gravity.
Stephon Castle chipped in 16, De'Aaron Fox added 15, and a host of others like Dylan Harper, Keldon Johnson, and Devin Vassell all hit double digits. It was a true team effort, proving coach Mitch Johnson's October hunch — that they had a chance to be pretty good — was perhaps the understatement of the season. Turns out, 'championship-level great' was closer to the mark.
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The game wasn't just a cakewalk, though. Unlike the previous four matchups in the series, which often saw one team run away with it, Game 7 was a nail-biter. The Spurs had leads of 14 and 11 points, only for the Thunder to claw their way back. Heading into the fourth quarter, it was a tight 80-77.
Then came the moment. Midway through the final frame, with the Thunder threatening to cut the lead to four, Oklahoma City's Isaiah Hartenstein looked poised for a fast-break score. Enter Luke Kornet. The man played a grand total of six minutes, scored two points, and yet managed to deliver a block at the rim that completely shifted the momentum. Sometimes, the biggest plays come from the most unexpected places. It's almost poetic, really.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points and nine assists, but it wasn't enough. For the eighth season in a row, the NBA will crown a new champion. Tough break for the Thunder, who were playing without Jalen Williams due to a hamstring injury. Coach Mark Daigneault summed it up: "You have to grow from every experience, including the tough ones." And being dethroned in Game 7? That definitely qualifies as a tough one.
The Spurs, it seems, just had the Thunder's number this season, winning eight of their 12 matchups. But only one truly mattered. Now, they'll host the New York Knicks in Game 1 on Wednesday night. And if you think they're satisfied, think again. Wembanyama's parting shot: "We want four more. We're not done."
Let that sink in. The kid who can't explain the feeling of making it to the Finals is already eyeing the trophy. The rest of the league has been warned.
