Wembanyama powers spurs to Double OT in Game 1

Chalien Dantes / Contributor

Victor Wembanyama was on fire  as the San Antonio Spurs stunned the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in double overtime to open the Western Conference Finals in dramatic fashion.

The series, which pits the top two seeds in the West against each other, also brings a heavyweight duel between Wembanyama, this season’s Defensive Player of the Year, and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has taken home the league’s top individual honour in back-to-back seasons.

Game 1 lived up to the billing and then some. San Antonio had chances to win it in regulation, then again in the first overtime, but neither side could land the final blow until the Spurs finally pulled away in the second extra period.

Wembanyama threw down an alley-oop dunk with 22 seconds left in double overtime to push the Spurs ahead and seal the momentum. He finished with 41 points and 24 rebounds.

At 22 years, he became the youngest player ever to record at least 40 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game, and only the second in Conference Finals history to do it, joining Wilt Chamberlain.

For the Thunder, Alex Caruso led the charge off the bench with 31 points, while Jalen Williams scored 26 and Gilgeous-Alexander added 24 points and 12 assists in a losing effort.