Oklahoma City Thunder steal Game 5, seize momentum vs. San Antonio Spurs
SAN ANTONIO --- After opening the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinals with an embarrassing 32-point loss here, the Oklahoma City Thunder have turned this series upside down in stunning fashion.
Their 95-91 victory at AT&T Center on Tuesday was their second win of the series on the Spurs’ home court, a place where San Antonio had lost only one time during the entire regular season.
Now leading the series three-games-to-two, the Thunder are in the improbable position of having a chance to close out the Spurs, winners of a franchise-record 67 regular season games, at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Thursday’s Game 6.
Russell Westbrook came close to tallying a triple-double, finishing with 35 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists.
And the Thunder won in large part because of a significant advantage at the free-throw line and in spite of a turnover-plagued effort. They committed 13 turnovers in the first half alone.
With 9.3 seconds left in a one-point game, the Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard tried to foul Westbrook but the officials did not blow a whistle. Westbrook then drove hard to the basket for a layup and foul. His ensuing free-throw gave the Thunder a four-point advantage and ultimately a stunning victory.
Some boos rang out as Spurs' fans exited the arena, with fans clearly upset at no foul being called in the final seconds.