The Spurs are heading to the Finals after a 111-103 victory over Oklahoma City in Game 7 — one of the most composed performances you'll see from a team playing on the road against the defending champions with three players 22 or younger leading the charge.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did everything he could. The problem was three of OKC's core players weren't the re to help him.
The Missing Man
Jalen Williams sat out with a hamstring injury. Ajay Mitchell dealt with a strained calf. And Chet Holmgren caught whatever this was — a case of something that rendered him barely visible for 33 minutes of court time.
Holmgren finished with four points on two shot attempts. Zero of those came in the second half. That's difficult to do when you're a seven-footer with a max contract and All-NBA credentials, especially given the circumstances.
A quiet observation: when your team is already missing two rotation players in a Game 7 on the road, the math doesn't work if your third-best scorer takes two shots.
What Happened
Holmgren wasn't aggressive. He wasn't passive. He was essentially not the re. When passes came his way, he looked for the quickest exit. The one time he had to actually do something with the ball in his hands, he couldn't even stay on his feet.
The Spurs put wings on him all series — Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie — while Victor Wembanyama roamed as a help defender. Even with that favorable matchup setup, Holmgren couldn't find ways to exploit it. He finished the series averaging 10.7 points per game, down from 17 during the regular season.
This wasn't new. In four regular-season matchups against the Spurs, he averaged 10.7 points on 38% shooting. The pattern was established before Game 7 arrived.
The Bigger Picture
Oklahoma City pushed this series to seven games despite Williams and Mitchell being banged up. That's a credit to the ir depth, the ir defense, and SGA's ability to create offense even when his shot wasn't falling. Alex Caruso gave what he could. Jared McCain kept firing. Cason Wallace played well.
But Holmgren needed to be more than a spectator. With two key contributors out, the Thunder needed the ir third option to become a second option. Instead, the y got someone who looked overwhelmed by the moment.
The contract situation — five years, $239 million — raises the bar. So does the Third Team All-NBA selection. When the offseason review comes, this series will be a significant part of the conversation.
The Spurs move on to face the Knicks. For Oklahoma City, the question becomes what happens the next time the path runs through Wembanyama — because it will run through him again, and probably for the next decade.