Wembanyama scores 33 as Spurs rip Thunder to level NBA playoffs

Victor Wembanyama scored 33 points as San Antonio defeated Oklahoma City 103-82 to level the Western Conference Finals at 2-2. He shot 11-of-22 from the floor and 3-of-7 from three-point range, adding eight rebounds, five assists, three blocked shots, and two steals in 31 minutes. Wembanyama emphasized taking on many responsibilities and responding when the team faced its first playoff-series deficit. The Spurs tied the series after Game Four, with Game Five in Oklahoma City and Game Six in San Antonio. San Antonio’s coach credited Wembanyama’s aggressiveness for preventing a 3-1 hole. Oklahoma City’s road unbeaten run ended, as San Antonio turned defense into offense through turnovers and rebounding.

"Victor Wembanyama has scored 33 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs in a 103-82 rout of Oklahoma City and level the NBA Western Conference Finals at two games each. The 22-year-old French 7ft-4-inch (2.24m) centre shot 11-of-22 from the floor, 3-of-7 from three-point range and added eight rebounds, five assists, three blocked shots and two steals in 31 minutes for the Spurs on Sunday."

"I need to find ways to impact the game in many areas, Wembanyama said. I have a lot of responsibilities, but I'm here for it. All of us, we're going to have to do things we didn't sign up for. Hosts San Antonio pulled level at 2-2 in the best-of-seven playoff series, with Game Five on Tuesday in Oklahoma City and Game Six back in San Antonio on Thursday."

"This was our first deficit in the playoff series. We just responded, Wembanyama said. It was nothing amazing. It wasn't magic. We just did what we needed to do. The series is far from over. Wembanyama knows what the Spurs must do to win the NBA title. We've got six more wins before we can rest, he said."

"Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Wembanyama was aggressive in keeping San Antonio from falling into a 3-1 series hole. Our competitive response all year has been pretty good, and he has been at the forefront of that, Johnson said. Tonight he felt an obligation to set a tone for us in a variety of ways. The aggressiveness was a reflection of that. I think he wants that responsibility. He's built for it."

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