OKC Thunder’s Depth Outshines San Antonio Spurs in Dominant Performance

After seizing an early advantage in the Western Conference finals by winning Game 1 in Oklahoma City, the Spurs now find themselves in a precarious position. Consecutive losses to the defending champion Thunder have left San Antonio trailing, and they must avoid a 3-1 deficit in the series.

In Game 3 on Friday, the Spurs suffered their most significant playoff loss this season, falling 123-108. Although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a significant impact with 26 points and 12 assists, it was the Thunder’s bench that truly stepped up in the absence of Jalen Williams.

While many teams might panic if a key starter missed seven out of 11 playoff games, the Thunder have shown remarkable resilience. Their bench outperformed the Spurs’ reserves, scoring a staggering 76 points compared to San Antonio’s 23, with standout contributions from Jared McCain, Alex Caruso, and Jaylin Williams.

For Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, the upcoming game is crucial. They are in a must-win scenario, with the odds slightly in their favor as 1.5-point favorites and a -140 moneyline in the impending Game 4.

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs have now entered must-win territory. They are slight 1.5-point favorites on the spread and -140 on the moneyline in Game 4. 

Thunder vs. Spurs Game 4 prediction, best bets

Coach Mark Daigneault’s next-man-up mentality has lifted OKC to two wins away from its second consecutive trip to the NBA Finals. 

Whether it’s McCain, Caruso, or defensive Swiss-Army Knife Cason Wallace, this Thunder bench delivers starter-level production that can wear down the opposition in many ways. 

They also play better on the road as a team, averaging 124.2 points per game on 59.4 percent shooting from 2s, 41.6 percent from 3s, and 85.6 percent from the charity stripe. 

Like the Knicks, the Thunder had a significant rest between the semifinal and conference final rounds, and it’s beginning to show. 

The Spurs made short work of the Timberwolves, closing them out by 30 points in a Game 6 blowout. However, that series-clinching performance, which featured 56% field-goal shooting, has not carried over into this series. 

The Thunder’s defensive physicality has dropped the Spurs’ offensive efficiency to just 44% on 2s and 33.9 percent on 3s through three games. De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper combined to go 3-of-14 from 3-point range in Game 3. 

The hope is that the Spurs can get more better shooting days from their guards, but between the injuries to both Fox and Harper, along with the lack of experience in crucial moments, the tide has shifted. 

Even Wemby’s Game 1 masterclass of 26 points in the paint has been neutralized by stronger defenders, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams. The French phenom was limited to just ten paint points in both Games 2 and 3. 

Betting on the NBA?

While the writing isn’t exactly on the wall, oddsmakers indicate the Thunder have seized control of the series, giving them -450 odds to win it and +200 to close things out in five games on BetMGM. 

A player prop to target for Game 4 is the over on Gilgeous-Alexander’s line of 7.5 assists.

San Antonio’s defense is doubling him at will, and in five road games this postseason, the two-time MVP is averaging nine assists. 

As for the game, I’ll take a swing at the under of 218.5. 

THE PLAY: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 7.5 assists (+102, FanDuel) | Under 218.5 total points (-110, BetMGM) 

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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.