San Antonio Spurs defeat Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 in Game 7 to reach NBA Finals

The San Antonio Spurs won a Game 7 on the road — bucking heavy odds, according to the Associated Press — to end the Oklahoma City Thunder's title defense and reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014. Julian Champagnie contributed 20 points, 18 of which came from three-point range, while Stephon Castle scored 16, De'Aaron Fox 15, and Dylan Harper 12. Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell each added 11 for a balanced San Antonio attack.

The game was tightly contested throughout. The Spurs led by as many as 14 in the first half and 11 in the third quarter, but the Thunder twice cut those deficits before the final period. San Antonio entered the fourth quarter ahead 80-77 and pulled away from there, with the Thunder — short-handed due to Jalen Williams being sidelined with a hamstring injury — unable to mount a final comeback.

A key defensive play came midway through the fourth quarter, when reserve center Luke Kornet blocked Oklahoma City's Isaiah Hartenstein at the rim on a fast break, denying a score that would have brought the Thunder within four points. Kornet played only six minutes, missed all three of his shot attempts, and finished with two points, but the block stood as a pivotal moment in the game, per the AP.