The shocking stat that turned the Spurs series — Thunder’s bench dominance
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images Oklahoma City’s 122-113 win over San Antonio in Game 2 wasn’t just about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 30 points or the series being levelled at 1-1. The real difference came from the bench, where the Thunder outscored the Spurs reserves 57-25, flipping what happened in Game 1. The opener was defined by San Antonio staying close enough to let Victor Wembanyama take over late.
But this time, Oklahoma City played more to their strengths. The Thunder got extra shooting, picked up the pace and saw enough defensive activity from their support group to keep things open for their stars. Oklahoma City didn’t need anyone to take over this game on their own.
Alex Caruso put up 17 points off the bench, Cason Wallace hit four threes on his way to 12 points, and Jared McCain matched him with another 12. Isaiah Hartenstein rounded it out with 10 points and 13 boards as part of that second-unit push. That kind of support allows Gilgeous-Alexander to play through the flow of the game, rather than having to force every possession.
Caruso’s performance stood out most: 5-of-7 shooting, 3-of-4 from deep, five assists and a team-high plus-18 in 25 minutes. That is more than just scoring. It is what holds a lineup together.
The Thunder had to adapt quickly when Jalen Williams left late in the first quarter with hamstring tightness. Wallace filled the gap well, ball movement stayed sharp, and Oklahoma City kept finding ways to score down the stretch. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images San Antonio’s lack of depth comes into focus San Antonio’s star power is obvious, but the difference in bench production during Game 2 was hard to ignore.
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