Sports
Spurs end Thunder's title defense, reach first NBA Finals since 2014
May 30, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder during game seven of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Victor Wembanyama had 22 points and seven rebounds to lift the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA Finals with a 111-103 road win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals on Saturday.
The Spurs will take on the New York Knicks in the Finals beginning Wednesday in San Antonio.
San Antonio is in the NBA Finals for the first time since winning the franchise’s fifth championship in 2014.
With the Spurs and Knicks advancing, there will be an eighth different champion in the last eight years.
Oklahoma City’s exit keeps the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors as the last team to win back-to-back titles.
Julian Champagnie scored 20 points — 11 in the third quarter — and was 6-of-10 from 3-point range.
With just under seven minutes left, Wembanyama headed to the bench with five fouls with his team ahead 97-91.
Isaiah Hartenstein came away with a steal and was barreling towards the bucket for a dunk when Luke Kornet, Wembanyama’s replacement, blocked the shot, Dylan Harper grabbed the rebound and Stephon Castle finished at the other end.
After an Oklahoma City turnover, Wembanyama checked in and Kornet headed back to the bench to a hearty celebration.
Shortly after, Champagnie drained his sixth 3-pointer to put San Antonio up by 11.
The Thunder pulled within six with 2:02 left, but the Spurs closed strong to advance.
League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turned in perhaps his best game of the series for Oklahoma City, with 35 points on 12-of-21 shooting plus nine assists and three steals.
But Chet Holmgren finished with just four points on just two shots. Holmgren didn’t attempt a shot in the second half and Alex Caruso was just 3-of-14 from the floor with 12 points.
For the fourth time in five games, the Spurs pulled away early. This time, they jumped out to a 14-point lead seven minutes in, leading 27-13.
De’Aaron Fox had a 3-pointer, an assist and two steals during the 17-7 run which built that lead.
In the final minute of the opening quarter, Wembanyama’s elbow caught Isaiah Hartenstein as Wembanyana started a drive. Hartenstein was called for a foul, and Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was assessed a technical. Oklahoma City’s challenge successfully overturned it to an offensive foul, but the foul was not upgraded to a technical.
Late in the second quarter, the Thunder used a 20-5 run to take their first lead in the series since the end of Game 5.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored the first seven and nine of the first 11 Oklahoma City points during the run.
But the Spurs scored the final seven points of the half to regain the lead at halftime, 56-53.
In the third, Champagnie scored 11 during a 16-2 San Antonio run which gave the Spurs a 76-65 lead.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Fernando Tatis Jr. finally hits first HR of 2026
May 30, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) singles against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images San Diego’s long nightmare is finally over.
Fernando Tatis Jr. has homered.
The 27-year-old Padres slugger, who led the National League with 42 home runs in 2021 and entered this season with 152 career dingers, ended his well-publicized home run drought with a solo shot in the fifth inning of San Diego’s 9-4 loss to the Nationals in Washington on Saturday.
The homer, off a 90 mph fastball from Nationals left-hander Forster Griffin, came on Tatis’ 208th at-bat and 239th plate appearance of 2026. It was also the Padres’ 57th game of the season.
As soon as he hit it, Tatis tossed his bat on the follow through of his swing and admired the 451-foot shot into left field at Nationals Park. It gave the Padres a short-lived 3-1 lead as Washington scored six runs in the seventh.
“I just knew right away,” Tatis told reporters after the game. “About (expletive) time.”
Tatis’ last home run came last Sept. 27. The blast also leaves Tampa Bay speedster Chandler Simpson as the player with the most plate appearances (232) without a home run this season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Royals 3B Maikel Garcia exits with hamstring injury
May 30, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (11) comes up with a leg injury during the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images Kansas City third baseman Maikel Garcia left in the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers with a right hamstring strain sustained Saturday at Arlington, Texas.
The 2025 All-Star was injured going from first to third base on Vinnie Pasquantino’s tiebreaking double. Garcia was 1-for-4 with an RBI in the contest, continuing a slow start to his 2026 season. The 26-year-old is batting .268 this year with just three home runs and 21 RBIs, a year after belting 16 homers to go along with 74 RBIs.
Tyler Tolbert pinch-ran following Garcia’s departure, and stayed in at second base while Garcia was replaced in the field by Nick Loftin. If Garcia goes to the injured list, Loftin, a four-year veteran, could be in line to get the majority of his time at third base. Loftin is batting .215 this year and .218 for his career.
Kansas City, which has now lost five in a row, led 6-3 entering the bottom of the eighth inning and went on to lose 7-6.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jalen Williams could be available for NBA Finals if Thunder advance
May 18, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) reacts in double overtime against the San Antonio Spurs during game one of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images Oklahoma City star Jalen Williams might be available for the NBA Finals should the Thunder advance, coach Mark Daigneault said prior to Saturday’s Game 7 at home against the San Antonio Spurs.
Williams is out with a left hamstring injury for the finale of the Western Conference showdown. The series is tied at 3-3 and the winner will face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, which begin Wednesday.
Williams, 25, played 10 minutes off the bench in Game 6 and struggled due to the injury, scoring one point and committing two turnovers. Daigneault said Williams didn’t sustain a setback.
“He’s feeling about the same as he did,” Daigneault told reporters. “He actually came out of the game pretty good for where he is in a normal rehab. Depending on what happens tonight, if we’re fortunate enough to win and advance, he’ll continue this rehab, and we’ll take the same process as we go forward.”
Williams has played in just three games in this series and five overall in the postseason due to the hamstring injuries. He hurt the left hamstring against the Phoenix Suns in the first round and missed six straight games. He reaggravated the injury in Game 2 of the series against the Spurs.
Williams is averaging 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in the postseason.
–Field Level Media
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Fernando Tatis Jr. finally hits first HR of 2026
