Victor Wembanyama's historic Game 1 performance lifts Spurs past Thunder in 2OT thriller

While two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tied the game moments later and Chet Holmgren blocked Wembanyama to force overtime with the game tied at 101, the 7-foot-4 machine was far from finished.

With the Spurs facing a 108-105 deficit in the closing seconds of the first OT period, Wembanyama casually pulled up from the logo to nail his only triple of the game and silence the Thunder crowd once again.

Wembanyama drew the and-1 with 1:01 to play in double OT for good measure, creating the breathing room the Spurs needed to close out a fantastic Game 1 affair.

Before the game even tipped, ESPN Insights noted that Wembanyama is the youngest player ever (22) to lead his team in both points and rebounding entering the conference finals, passing Jayson Tatum in 2020.

Even with De'Aaron Fox, the team's third-leading scorer, sidelined with a right ankle sprain, Wembanyama went into full takeover mode as he continues to shine in his playoff debut and helps the Spurs maintain the upper hand with wins in five of their six meetings with the Thunder this season.

On the other side, Gilgeous-Alexander overcame a slow start and finished with 24 points (7-of-23 FG) and 12 assists, while Jalen Williams impressed in his return from a left hamstring strain with 26 points (11-of-25 FG) and seven rebounds. Alex Caruso, meanwhile, was phenomenal off the bench with 31 points (11-of-19 FG, 8-of-14 3PT).

None of that was enough to topple Wembanyama and the Spurs on a night that San Antonio handed Oklahoma City its first loss of the entire playoffs. 

This was a matchup that many expected to live up to the hype before it even tipped off, and Game 1 proved those notions correct. After all, it is the first series since the 1998 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz — and seventh overall — where both teams won at least 62 regular-season games.

If the Thunder cannot find an answer for Wembanyama going forward, though, this is a Spurs team that looks plenty capable of unseating the defending champions.