Spurs Conquer the West: Wembanyama Topples Defending Champions in Epic Game 7 to Set Up Historic NBA Finals Matchup Against Knicks

Key Points

The Kings are Dethroned: The San Antonio Spurs achieved a massive sports upset by defeating the defending NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, 111-103 on their own home floor in a deciding Game 7.
Wembanyama Secures MVP: Third-year generational superstar Victor Wembanyama led his squad with 22 points and 7 rebounds, earning the Western Conference Finals MVP honors in an emotional victory.
NBA Finals Are Set: The San Antonio Spurs advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014, where they will host the New York Knicks for Game 1 on Wednesday night.
WNBA Expansion Drama: In women's professional basketball, the newly introduced 2026 expansion franchise, the Portland Fire, completely handled the Indiana Fever 100-84 behind historic franchise milestones for Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell.

The basketball world experienced a historic seismic shift over the weekend as the San Antonio Spurs completed a breathtaking postseason run by toppling the defending NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in an unforgettable 111-103 Game 7 road victory to capture the Western Conference crown.

An incredibly emotional Victor Wembanyama, who was named the Western Conference Finals MVP, anchored his team with 22 points and 7 rebounds, breaking into tears post-game as he realized his childhood dream of reaching the NBA Finals was finally coming true in just his third professional season.

The Spurs received an exceptional boost from their supporting cast, with Julian Champagnie firing in 20 points (including 18 from beyond the three-point arc), while rookie sensation Stephon Castle added 16 points and veteran guard De'Aaron Fox contributed 15 critical points to guide San Antonio to their first Finals appearance since 2014.

The deciding moments of the fourth quarter saw unheralded center Luke Kornet execute an epic, game-saving block on Oklahoma City's Isaiah Hartenstein at the rim, completely deflating a roaring home crowd and halting a late-game Thunder surge.

Oklahoma City fell short despite a magnificent, game-high 35 points and 9 assists from league superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, as the champion Thunder felt the painful absence of the injured Jalen Williams (hamstring) while fellow star Chet Holmgren suffered a major disappearing act, finishing with just 4 points on a mere two shot attempts for the entire game.

This historic outcome sets up a dramatic, nostalgic NBA Finals rematch against the New York Knicks starting this coming Wednesday night, June 3rd, 2026, echoing the iconic 1999 championship battle between these two legendary franchises.

Meanwhile, in the opening weeks of the landmark 30th WNBA regular season, the professional women's basketball scene witnessed major excitement as the newly established expansion squad, the Portland Fire, dismantled the Indiana Fever 100-84 at the Moda Center.

Even though the Fever jumped out to a fast 8-2 lead, Portland's relentless offense overwhelmed them, though Indiana's stars still managed historic achievements; Aliyah Boston grabbed her 746th defensive rebound to pass Erlana Larkins for the second-most in Fever history, and Kelsey Mitchell dished out her 819th career assist to take sole possession of the number two spot on the franchise’s all-time list.

The WNBA action remains incredibly intense as teams now prepare to shift their absolute focus toward the highly anticipated WNBA Commissioner's Cup Tournament, which officially tips off on June 1st, 2026, promising high-stakes basketball for global fans.

Key Points Summary

San Antonio Spurs win the West by beating the OKC Thunder 111-103 in Game 7.
Victor Wembanyama takes home the Western Conference Finals MVP award.
The NBA Finals will feature Spurs vs. New York Knicks, starting Wednesday, June 3rd.
Portland Fire dominate Indiana Fever 100-84 in early WNBA regular season action.
WNBA Commissioner's Cup Tournament begins tomorrow, June 1st, 2026.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) Section

When do the 2026 NBA Finals start and who is playing?

The 2026 NBA Finals will begin on Wednesday night, June 3rd, 2026. The series features a highly anticipated matchup between the Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs and the Eastern Conference Champion New York Knicks.

Who won the Western Conference Finals MVP award?

The Western Conference Finals MVP was awarded to San Antonio Spurs center/forward Victor Wembanyama following his dominant performance in Game 7 against the Thunder.

Why did the Oklahoma City Thunder lose Game 7?

Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's brilliant 35 points, the Thunder were severely short-handed without secondary star Jalen Williams, who was out with a hamstring injury. Additionally, All-Star center Chet Holmgren struggled heavily, contributing just 4 points on 2 shot attempts.

What are the new expansion teams in the 2026 WNBA season?

The WNBA expanded to a 15-team field for its historic 30th season with the highly anticipated debuts of two new franchises: the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo.

What is the next major event on the WNBA calendar?

Following the latest weekend games, the WNBA shifts directly into the WNBA Commissioner's Cup Tournament, which runs from June 1st to June 17th, 2026, with the Championship game scheduled for June 30th.

Sources

Associated Press / AP News: Wembanyama, Spurs win the West, topple Thunder 111-103 in Game 7 to head to NBA Finals (Published May 31, 2026)
Olympics Official Media: NBA Playoffs 2026: Emotional Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs headed to Finals (Published May 31, 2026)
Al Jazeera Basketball: Wembanyama’s Spurs dethrone Thunder to reach NBA Finals against Knicks (Published May 31, 2026)
Official WNBA / Indiana Fever Media: Game Recap: Indiana Fever Suffer Defeat at Portland Fire (Published May 31, 2026)