Game 5 back in Oklahoma City was marked by poor shooting from the Spurs. They made only 40 percent of their shots as a team, and only 28 percent from 3-point range.
The general goal is to make half of your shots. A note on terms here: Shots “from the floor” or “from the field” are shots during normal play while the clock is running, and the ball is moving. It doesn’t include free throws.
Victor Wembanyama scored 22 points, but only made 4 of 15 shots. He was aided, of course, by 12 free throws, and he made them all. (Free throws are worth 1 point, as opposed to 2 or 3, in the normal run of play.
A small note: One intriguing basketball play occurs when a shooter is fouled by a defender while in the act of shooting. In that scenario, the ball is live. Depending on the distance of course, a shot that goes in gains either 2 or 3 points, and the player is awarded one free throw, and given the context, it’s often called a “foul shot.” If the initial shot misses, the player is awarded 2 free throws for shooting from 2 point range, and 3 shots from 3 point range. A three point shot that goes in may ultimately earn therefore 4 points. And 2 can become 3.
Though the Thunder only made 48 percent of their shots, it was more than enough to defeat the Spurs. Only Julian Champagnie and Stephon Castle made a majority of their shots for San Antonio. The 127-114 final gave Oklahoma City the opportunity to win the series in San Antonio. As it happened, it was the last gasp of the defending champion Thunder.
Game 6 took the teams back to San Antonio. Victor Wembanyama knew that he had to play better. And he did. He scored 28 points, and had 10 rebounds. In accordance with his status as Defensive Player of The Year, he added 3 blocks.
Oklahoma City, for their part, had 2 quarters where they scored below 25 points: 22 in the first, and 13 in the third. No member of the Thunder scored 20 points. They fell to San Antonio, 118-91, and the series shifted back to Oklahoma City tied 3-3.
Game 7 in Oklahoma City was another installment in high drama, the most intense pressure possible in the four major sports. SGA scored 35 points on 12-21 shooting, and added 9 assists. That’s probably as well as SGA can play. Unfortunately for the Thunder, it wasn’t enough. The Spurs rebounded missed shots by committee, grabbing 25 among the starters, and 40 total. Wembanyama scored 22, and was aided by 20 points from Julian Champagnie. In addition, every starter scored in double figures, and they were aided by two bench players who did the same.
For San Antonio to flirt with holding a modern NBA offense under 100 points for a third time in the series—the Thunder finished with 103 on this night—testifies to a dominant defense, elite enough right now to walk away with the championship trophy. The Spurs were underdogs and came into the opposing arena in the deciding game to take the series 4 games to 3, by a score of 111-103.
San Antonio will begin the NBA Finals as favorites and holding the home court advantage by virtue of a superior record in the regular season, compared with the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks, who defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in 4 games. (The “home court advantage” refers to the team that earns 4 home games out of the 7. To “take home court” means to win at least one road game, which allows the disadvantaged team the chance to win the series by winning its home games.) 
Jason Kettinger is Associate Editor of Open for Business. He writes on politics, sports, faith and more.
Pass along this article.
Never Miss Another Article from Jason Kettinger.
You need to be logged in if you wish to comment on this article. Sign in or sign up here.
Start the Conversation