Takeaways: Spurs rout Thunder to take Game 4

May 25, 2026 No Comments

2026 NBA playoffs: Conference finals takeawaysNBA InsidersMultiple AuthorsMay 24, 2026, 10:45 PM ET

The conference finals of the 2026 NBA playoffs are here, and our NBA insiders have you covered for every game of the Eastern and Western matchups.

The No. 3-seeded New York Knicks are facing the No. 4-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers after the Cavaliers prevailed in seven games over the No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons.

In the West, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder clash with the San Antonio Spurs as the top two seeds battle in a highly anticipated series.

With four teams one round away from their shots at the Larry O’Brien Trophy, here’s what matters most in both conferences and what to watch in the series.

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Knicks-Cavaliers
Thunder-Spurs

More coverage:
Schedules and results | Offseason guides

Western Conference

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder tied with (2) San Antonio Spurs 2-2

Game 1: Spurs 122, Thunder 115
Game 2: Thunder 122, Spurs 113
Game 3: Thunder 123, Spurs 108
Game 4: Spurs 103, Thunder 82

Biggest takeaway from Game 4: Not only did San Antonio hit back, the Spurs finally hit first for a change in altering the trajectory of the Western Conference finals by evening the series 2-2 on the strength of a brilliant 33-point showing from Victor Wembanyama that powered a 103-82 triumph over Oklahoma City in Game 4. After falling victim to the Thunder’s physicality over the first three games of the series, San Antonio turned the tables.

In doing so, the Spurs opened the floodgates to accomplish virtually every objective they knew was needed to seize Game 4. Wembanyama’s 40-foot buzzer beater to end the first half — the subsequent fist pumping and whooping it up on the way to the locker room — only encapsulated the Herculean effort it would take.

Wembanyama mashed his fingerprints all over the game early with a hit-first mentality that permeated throughout the team. He took four shots in the first 3:19 and scored or assisted on 17 points in the first quarter as the Spurs knocked down 10 field goals on 10 assists — marking only the fourth time the club finished a quarter with an assist rate of 100%.

Over the first eight minutes, Wembanyama single-handedly outscored Oklahoma City 11-8. The supporting cast also operated symbiotically by setting copious screens to free up one another, which in turn loosened the Thunder defense for everybody to cook. San Antonio knew it needed to play fast offensively to prevent Oklahoma City from consistently setting its defense: mission accomplished.

On defense, instead of selling out to neutralize Gilgeous-Alexander, San Antonio utilized a by-committee approach on the two-time MVP. It featured Stephon Castle as the main defender with Julian Champagnnie, De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper taking their turns, in conjunction with an occasional double-team from Wembanyama.

The Spurs also stayed home on the shooters, causing Oklahoma City to finish 1-of-11 from 3-point range in the first half. The Thunder had previously made one or no 3-pointers in a half only once this season (Jan. 7 against the Utah Jazz). — Michael C. Wright

Game 5: San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Tuesday, 8:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock)

What to watch in Game 5: Can the Thunder figure out a way to generate offense if two of their best off-dribble creators remain sidelined?

Calf strains tend to require at least 10 days to recover, so it’s unlikely that Ajay Mitchell will play again in the series. The Thunder describe Jalen Williams (hamstring) as day-to-day.

Without both of them in Game 4, Oklahoma City’s offense was abysmal. The margins of error against Wembanyama and the Spurs are small regardless of the circumstances. They are tiny when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the only reliable shot creator for the Thunder. The results on Sunday: 33% shooting from the field and 17 turnovers. — Tim MacMahon

Eastern Conference

(3) New York Knicks lead (4) Cleveland Cavaliers 3-0

Game 1: Knicks 115, Cavaliers 104 (OT)
Game 2: Knicks 109, Cavaliers 93
Game 3: Knicks 121, Cavaliers 108

Biggest takeaway from Game 3: The Knicks are one game away from the NBA Finals. Usually, they’re the team that has been gasping to the finish line. This time, New York looks fresh, and it played that way — starting with the wings who have to do it all, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.

Bridges was a blur, at times, going from the starter everyone wanted to replace to being the Knicks’ most efficient starter. Anunoby is showing none of the effects from the hamstring injury that cost him the end of the series with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Cavaliers’ shooters were supposed to show up in ways they didn’t in New York. But they came up short again, at home, shooting under 30% from 3.

The Knicks’ playoff winning streak has reached 10, the longest since that of the 2012 Spurs, who reached that same number before dropping four in a row to the “Baby Thunder.” It’s unlikely that result will repeat itself for what looks like the Finals-bound Knicks. — Vincent Goodwill

Game 4: New York at Cleveland (Monday, 8 p.m., ESPN)

What to watch in Game 4: Do the Cavs have anything left?

Cleveland has played a game every other day since April 29, a high-intensity gauntlet beginning with Game 5 of the first round that has included a pair of Game 7s to save their season from the brink. The Cavs never led on Saturday, and they haven’t led in this series since the second quarter of Game 2. They misfired on open looks — shooting 29% on 3s and going 12-for-19 from the free throw line — and turned the ball over with reckless abandon, leading to easy baskets for the Knicks in transition. Cleveland’s stars haven’t had the juice to take over games the way Jalen Brunson has on the other side.

Falling behind 0-3 has been insurmountable for every team in NBA playoff history, and the Cavs might need a herculean effort to prevent Monday’s game in Cleveland from becoming a celebration for the Knicks and their fans. — Jamal Collier