3 reasons Thunder can bounce back from Game 6 blowout, beat Spurs in Game 7

We have been wondering when the Oklahoma City Thunder would enter their championship gear and pull away from the San Antonio Spurs, and now it is official, that moment never came. There was no runaway in this series. OKC will still be favored to advance to the NBA Finals for a second year in a row, but in order to achieve that franchise milestone, it must survive the most thrilling and simultaneously stressful phenomenons in all of sports.

A do-or-die Game 7 awaits the Thunder this Saturday night. After suffering a 118-91 beating in Frost Bank Center on Thursday, it may feel like momentum is with Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. Oklahoma City is a different beast at home, though, and while San Antonio did steal Game 1 in the Paycom Center, the 2025 champs seldom repeat their mistakes.

I could tout home-court advantage as the reason I believe OKC will retain the Western Conference crown, but it goes a bit deeper than that. There are three specific reasons, or rather players, that have me convinced the Thunder will vanquish the Spurs in Game 7.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will not shoot less than five free throws again

When assessing San Antonio’s prospects in the conference finals, I initially argued that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would not have another game like the one he posted in the series-opening loss. I was terribly wrong. The Spurs have stifled the reigning NBA Finals MVP and two-time reigning regular season MVP, so much so that it is quite risky to forecast an SGA eruption on Saturday. He will still get his points, however.

Gilgeous-Alexander was a brutal 6-of-18 from the field and took just three free-throw attempts in 28 minutes played. You will not see that stat line again, at least not the latter portion of it. The crafty guard ranked first in the league with 7.9 made FTs per game this season, and although his trips to the charity stripe have decreased in the playoffs, he will draw more contact and whistles in the decisive showdown.

Fans may not like his methods, but the four-time All-NBA First-Teamer is a master at procuring free offense for himself and his team. He should do so at a much higher rate in Game 7. Even if SGA does not truly awaken in this upcoming battle, he will find a way to stamp his imprint on the court.

Jalen Williams should be sharper in his next time out, assuming he plays

The 2024-25 All-Star is unlikely to come even close to 100 percent this postseason, as he nurses a lingering hamstring strain that has sidelined him for half of these Western Conference Finals. A career year has been followed by constant adversity. But if Jalen Williams gets the green light, I still think he can make positive contributions in a must-win matchup.

The 25-year-old wing scored only one point and took only one field goal while committing two turnovers in 10 minutes of action on Thursday. He was extremely limited in what was his first game in eight days. Fans will understandably argue that Williams had no business coming back for this contest, but despite his glaring restrictions, it is hard to envision him fading into obscurity once again.

Although this result was obviously unfavorable for the Thunder, the lopsided outcome allowed J-Dub to shake off some rust without overly exerting himself. OKC head coach Mark Daigneault is not ready to make any rulings on Williams’ Game 7 status, but if the former lottery pick is active, he should theoretically be more effective, especially at home.

Williams is not the only one who can benefit from good vibes in Paycom Center.

Alex Caruso has brought it in OKC throughout this series

If Oklahoma City defeats San Antonio, two-time NBA champion Alex Caruso is likely going to be seen as the ultimate difference-maker. The veteran guard enjoyed the performance of his life in a double-overtime Game 1 loss, and he has proceeded to make his presence known in each of the squad’s three wins over the Spurs. He hardly made a peep in Game 6, however.

Caruso registered a modest seven points on 3-of-7 shooting to go along with one steal in 21 minutes. He was practically invisible in the Thunder’s 103-82 Game 4 loss. Translation: No. 9 is not entirely comfortable in Frost Bank Center. He does just fine in OKC, though.

Caruso dropped 31, 17 and 22 points in the champs’ last three contests at home. He shot 50 percent or better on all those occasions, recorded at least five assists twice and tallied a combined six steals. This man is one of the greatest role players in modern NBA history, and he should not be rattled by the moment.

Actually, I expect him to be spurred by it. Alex Caruso is the lifeblood of Oklahoma City’s bench. The Spurs will have to address other Thunder weapons like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and possibly Jalen Williams, which will give the headband-wearing 32-year-old plenty of offensive opportunities.

I expect him to knock down his fair share and bring his trademark tenacity on defense. And if that is indeed what unfolds, OKC should be competing for another Larry O’Brien Trophy, beginning on June 3.

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