Philippines, 13 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


NBA WEST FINALS - Thunder strikes in OKC, derails Spurs in Game 3


PhilBoxing.com




WITH their postseason on the line, the Oklahoma City Thunder unleashed the might of their offensive firepower and easily beat the San Antonio Spurs, 102-82, in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals Thursday night at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

The Thunder win chopped the Spurs' series lead to 2-1 and ended San Antonio's impressive 20-game run, a streak that dates back late in the regular season and includes 10 games this postseason.

The Spurs had not lost a game since April 11 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kevin Durant, the league's back-to-back-to-back scoring champion, led Oklahoma's balanced attack with 22 points. His running mate, Russell Westbrook, only had 10 points but the speedy point guard was brilliant with seven assists and nine rebounds.

Defensive specialist Tabo Sefolosha was a surprise hit on offense, finishing with 19 points and six assists. He also had four rebounds and six steals, including four early in the first quarter which allowed OKC to jump to an 8-0 lead.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner James Harden, who exploded for 30 points in OKC's Game 2 loss, had a quiet 15 points with four rebounds and three assists.

After falling early, 8-0, the Spurs regained the lead 13-12 and went ahead 24-22 after the first quarter.

But the Thunder struck back in the second quarter with a 32-17 spurt to take a 54-41 halftime lead. The Thunder then stretched their lead to 68-48 late in the third quarter and cruised all the way to the final buzzer.

"THEY played like it was a closeout game, both offensively and defensively," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told the Associated Press. "They were very active, physical, they moved the ball well on offense. They did all those things better than we did. They beat us good."

The Spurs couldn't find the offense that made them the last unbeaten team in these playoffs. They shot just 30-of-76 from the field (39.5 percent) and 11-of-26 from 3-point range (42.3 percent). And they only attempted 15 free throws (11 made), a far cry from the combined 51 attempts they took in Games 1 and 2.

Tony Parker and Stephen Jackson led the Spurs with 16 points each but Tim Duncan struggled with 11 points on 5-of-15 shooting while Manu Ginobili settled with eight points on a mere 1-for-5 field goals.

Besides having their offense slowed with only 18 assists, the Spurs also had a festival of 21 turnovers. And Spurs were also outrebounded, 44-41.

Game 3 is Saturday night at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. (Homer D. Sayson)


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    , Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    , Mon, 07 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.