Victor Wembanyama leads Spurs to Game 1 win vs. OKC: Ranking Wemby's top five plays from 2OT masterpiece

Wemby had a jaw-dropping 41 points and 24 rebounds as the Spurs outlasted the reigning champs in double overtime

Jack Maloney

May 19, 2026

1:19 am ET

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5 min read

Getty Images

Few players in NBA history have entered the league with as much hype as Victor Wembanyama. And somehow, some way, the giant Frenchman continues to exceed even the wildest expectations.

Late on Monday night, Wembanyama authored one of the finest playoff performances we've ever seen to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 122-115 double-overtime victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in an instant classic in Game 1 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals.

This was the first double-overtime game in the Western Conference Finals since 1976, and Wembanyama finished with 41 points, 24 rebounds, three assists and three blocks on 14 of 25 from the field in 49 minutes to become the youngest player in NBA history to record a 40-point, 20-rebound game in the playoffs.

"Just like, sheer willpower," Wembanyama said of his performance during his walk-off interview. "Everything was going really fast tonight. I guess I was -- I wasn't really thinking."

Wembanyama set new playoff career-highs in scoring, rebounds and minutes, joined David Robinson as the only players in Spurs history with a 40-point, 20-rebound game in the playoffs, became the first player since Charles Barkley in 1993 to record a 40/20 game in the conference finals, and joined Shaquille O'Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players with at least 40 points, 20 rebounds and three blocks in the conference finals or later (blocks did not become official until the 1973-74 season).

40 points, 20 rebounds and three blocks in the conference finals or later

PlayerSeasonRoundOpponentVictor Wembanyama

2026

WCF

Thunder

Shaquille O'Neal

2000

Finals

Pacers

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1974

WCF

Bulls

The Thunder had no answer for Wembanyama, who made big play after big play on both ends of the floor all night long. He had a go-ahead bucket in the closing seconds of regulation that looked like it would be the game-winner until Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored to force overtime.

Then, in the first overtime, Wembanyama hit an absurd 27-foot 3-pointer -- it seemed even further, but that's the distance the NBA's stats site gives -- to tie the game with less than 30 seconds to play. And in the second extra frame, Wembanyama scored nine of the Spurs' 14 points and outscored the Thunder by himself. His and-one dunk over rival Chet Holmgren was the defining play down the stretch.

Thanks to Wembanyama's heroics, the Spurs have grabbed a 1-0 lead and stolen home-court advantage from the reigning champions, who had not lost a single game in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Spurs are now just three wins away from their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2014, but the job is far from finished.

"It might be a long series," Wembanyama said. "Winning one game means something, but it doesn't mean everything."

With an iconic Game 1 in the books, let's rank Wembanyama's five best plays

5. An absurd block on J-Dub

Jalen Williams made his return to action in Game 1 after missing the Thunder's last six games, including the entire second round against the Los Angeles Lakers, with a hamstring strain. He was a bit rusty, as expected, but finished with 26 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

He easily could have had 28 points if not for an absurd block by Wembanyama on a putback attempt.

> Only Victor Wembanayama can block a putback attempt like this! pic.twitter.com/qTBNmCldpJ

— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) May 19, 2026

4. A driving dunk to set the tone in double-OT

Everyone was gassed to start the second overtime, and the first few possessions for both teams were sloppy. Wembanyama eventually took matters into his own hands to open the scoring. He caught the ball at the top of the key, pump-faked Cason Wallace out of the way and threw down a huge one-hand jam.

In terms of a pure highlight, this was far from Wembanyama's best play of the night, but it was one of his most important moments. The game could have gone either way in the second overtime, and that dunk set the tone for the Spurs to go on and win.

> WEMBY OPENS THE SCORING IN 2OT WITH THE FLUSH!

HE'S GOT 35 POINTS AND 21 REBOUNDS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/rJ6JN0wcqz

— NBA (@NBA) May 19, 2026

3. A near game-winner

The Spurs led by double digits early in the fourth quarter, but with De'Aaron Fox sidelined, they struggled to get good looks late in regulation as the Thunder's defense tightened. Throwing the ball to Wembanyama is usually a good strategy, though, and that's what they did with less than 30 seconds to play.

Wembanyama caught the ball near the free-throw line, squared up, dealt with the physicality from Williams and spun his way into an extremely tough runner which rattled around and in. That b