‘Refs Doin Too Much’ — Damian Lillard, Magic Johnson, NBA Stars React to Thunder’s Game 3 Win Over Spurs in WCF
Collage featuring NBA: Brooklyn Nets at Portland Trail Blazers, NBA: Playoffs-Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs, and NBA: All Star-Red Carpet. Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images / Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images The Oklahoma City Thunder took an all-important 2-1 lead against the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals on Friday night. Despite the absence of Jalen Williams, the Thunder refused to panic under the hostile pressure of the Frost Bank Center, clinching a 123-108 Game 3 win.
NBA Stars Weigh In on Oklahoma City Game 3 Win Despite San Antonio’s ‘Electric’ Start San Antonio erupted for a 15-0 lead right after tipoff, sending the crowd into a frenzy. It was clear the Spurs were not going to hold back, executing an offense that looked completely unstoppable. With Devin Vassell connecting from beyond the arc to make it a 10-0 game, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was forced to burn an early timeout.
OKC gradually found its footing in the blistering pace of the game and clawed back to cut the deficit to 31-26 by the end of the first quarter. With the series tied at 1-1, the clean, physical play eventually gave way to a slog of foul calls. The officiating crew tightened their whistles as the game wore on, and the defensive intensity went up from both teams.
Fans in San Antonio grew furious and directed their anger at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, booing the Thunder star with “flopper” chants whenever he stepped to the line or hit the deck. The tension peaked in the third quarter during a physical altercation when the Thunder’s Ajay Mitchell tangled with the Spurs’ Stephon Castle following a fastbreak foul. This sparked a shoving match, and San Antonio eventually lost its grip on the contest.
Peers and NBA legends watching on took notice of the topsy-turvy game and poured in their reactions. “The Oklahoma City Thunder showed us all exactly why they’re the Champions tonight! They were down 15-0 to the San Antonio Spurs in the first couple minutes and came back to win the game 123-108 …I thought the Spurs lost their cool a little bit tonight and that hurt them,” NBA legend Magic Johnson wrote.