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After the incredible high of the first game, the griminess and grittiness of the second game was a big letdown. The Spurs were able to persevere in Game 1 despite
giving the Thunder beaucoup turnovers, and it was just too much to ask them to overcome another 20+ turnover game on the road. Castle is an incredible second year player, but the defensive intensity of OKC is testing his ability to hold onto the ball and make crisp passes. If Castle has a weakness in his game, it’s that his handle is a little loose at times when he’s the primary ball handler, and Mark Daigneault knows that as he has his elite defenders go at him full speed for every minute he’s on the floor. Steph has been asked to play a lot of minutes in both games so far, due to the absence of De’Aaron Fox, who is once again listed as questionable tonight on the injury report. Dylan Harper is also listed as questionable, having gotten an adductor issue in Wednesday’s game. It looked like he might have hurt a hamstring when he left the court, so the adductor is relatively good news, as those tend to be less lingering than hammies. Speaking of hammies, Jalen Williams (JDub) re-aggravated his hamstring strain in Game 2, and although he’s listed as questionable on the injury report, I would be surprised to see him back tonight, or even on Sunday.
The Spurs are going to have to strategize a way to keep Hartenstein from mauling Wembanyama every time his gets close, and maybe Mitch needs to make sure that the refs see the fouling, although that didn’t make much difference in Game 2, where a referee was looking directly at IHart yanking on Steph Castle’s hair and didn’t even blow his whistle. Steph will need to find a way to tighten up his handle without limiting his agressiveness on offense, which is one the Spurs best assets other than that tall French dude. The betting line tonight has San Antonio favored to win, which I really don’t understand. The Thunder took back the momentum of the series on Game 2, and the Silver and Black will need to take it back tonight. Hopefully Fox will be back, but if he isn’t, next man up. Let’s go JorMac and LWIII. Role players are usually better and home, and maybe Julian will hit a ton of three point shots tonight. LETS GO SPURS!
Game Prediction:
Isaiah Hartenstein will be ejected when he pulls a pair of nunchucks out of his shorts during a scramble for a loose ball.
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma Thunder, Conference Championship Round, Game 3
May 22, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT
Streaming: Peacock
TV: NBC
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