Spurs rout Thunder to force Game 7 in Western Conference Finals

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Spurs delivered dominating performance on Thursday night, winning 118-91 over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, forcing a winner-take-all Game 7 on Saturday in Oklahoma City.

Why it matters: After a poor showing in Game 5, San Antonio responded with intense defense and a fast-paced offense to keep its season alive.

The big picture: The Spurs knocked down eight three-pointers in the opening quarter, building momentum that never disappeared.

• Oklahoma City briefly cut into the deficit before halftime, but San Antonio buried the defending champs with a huge 20-0 run in the third quarter to pull away.

By the numbers:

• Victor Wembanyama bounced back from his quiet Game 5 with 28 points and 10 rebounds.
• Dylan Harper added 18 points off the bench in what looked like his healthiest performance since suffering an adductor injury earlier in the series. 
• The Spurs held Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to just 15 points on 6-for-15 shooting.

The turning point: The Spurs went on a 20-0 run in the third quarter while Oklahoma City went nearly eight minutes without scoring thanks to some suffocating San Antonio defense.

What they’re saying: The Spurs have answered every postseason setback with a response, and Thursday was no different after the embarrassment of Game 5.

• "I think we were consistent, and we did what we needed to do," Wembanyama said. "Trusted the game plan, trusted the Basketball Gods."