The Oklahoma City Thunder (1-1) and San Antonio Spurs (1-1) will meet in Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference Finals this Friday. Tipoff from the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio is set for 8:30 p.m. ET, with the game airing live on NBC and Peacock.
The Spurs are 1.5-point home favorites over the Thunder in Game 3 tonight, with the over/under set at 218.5 total points. San Antonio is a -124 moneyline favorite to win outright, while Oklahoma City is priced at +106 to pull off the road upset and take control of the series.
Let's get into my Thunder vs. Spurs Game 3 predictions and NBA picks for Friday, May 22.
Thunder vs Spurs Prediction, Picks
- Thunder vs Spurs pick: Victor Wembanyama Over 13.5 Rebounds (-140)
My Spurs vs. Thunder Game 3 best bet is on Victor Wembanyama to record over 13.5 rebounds. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Thunder vs Spurs Odds for Game 3
| Thunder Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -108 | 218.5 -108o / -112u | +106 |
| Spurs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -112 | 218.5 -108o / -112u | -124 |
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Thunder vs Spurs NBA Western Conference Finals Preview
Jalen Williams' Injury Leaves OKC Vulnerable
Following an epic double-overtime loss in Game 1, the Thunder did exactly what they always do: they got right back off the mat and fought back in Game 2.
Over the last two postseasons, the Thunder are a flawless 8-0 straight up and 6-2 ATS immediately following a loss, extending their streak to 33 consecutive playoff games without suffering back-to-back defeats.
However, while the Thunder successfully evened up the series in Game 2, the structural geometry of this OKC roster has been noticeably altered by injuries.
The loss of Jalen Williams is a huge factor. J-Dub is dealing with a recurring hamstring issue, and when a player deals with this type of injury, they simply don’t feel right for a long time.
At this stage, we should assume we might not see a healthy version of Williams for the remainder of the postseason.
While Oklahoma City boasts some of the best bench depth in the entire NBA—relying on guys like Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe, and Cason Wallace—none of those secondary pieces can replicate what J-Dub provides.
The absence of Williams fundamentally shifts how OKC generates offense. Without his elite playmaking and downhill driving threat, the Thunder are forced to expand their entire half-court offense outward toward the perimeter—and that reliance on outside spacing leaves the interior vulnerable to a physical mismatch against San Antonio's frontline.
The Victor Wembanyama Factor
The Spurs return to their home floor for the first time in this series tonight, opening as narrow 1.5-point favorites in an environment where their young roster should thrive.
The main story for San Antonio continues to be navigating a brutal injury report in the backcourt. With De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper banged up, the Spurs will likely be operating with a heavily taxed, short rotation.
Keldon Johnson was the Spurs' only bench piece to eclipse 20 minutes of action in both of the opening games, putting immense strain on a starting lineup that survived a double-overtime battle in Game 1.
Despite a glaring 57-25 bench scoring disparity in favor of the Thunder, the Spurs possess the ultimate equalizer in the middle, Victor Wembanyama.
Plus, returning home historically provides a performance boost to role players, meaning San Antonio should find a more consistent offensive rhythm.
The Thunder are attempting to counter San Antonio's length by playing smaller lineups and spacing the floor.
However, that also plays directly into the Spurs' hands, giving Wemby total autonomy to control the interior and dictate the terms of the series from the paint defensively.
Thunder vs Spurs Best Bet for Game 3
I am going right back to Wembanyama on the glass in Game 3 tonight. The sheer volume of rebounding production Victor has posted in this series is nothing short of outrageous, and the market simply hasn’t adjusted to his actual baseline role.
Wemby recorded 24 rebounds on 35 chances in Game 1, and then 17 rebounds on 27 chances in Game 2.
Historically, opposing role players tend to perform worse on the road, meaning as this series shifts to San Antonio, we should see more missed shots from the Thunder, yielding even more defensive rebounding opportunities for Victor.
The Thunder were terrified to play Isaiah Hartenstein extended minutes in the opener, but they were forced to adapt and play him heavily in Game 2 because you simply cannot allow Wembanyama to stroll into a 40-point, 24-rebound stat line.
However, having Hartenstein on the floor changes the geometry of the Thunder's offense in a way that directly feeds Wembanyama’s rebounding floor.
Hartenstein isn't much of a perimeter threat. That allows Wembanyama to comfortably sag off him and serve as a permanent anchor in the paint. Victor doesn't have to rotate out to the three-point line; he can just sit back, control the lower third of the floor, and clean the glass.
The absence of Williams also strips OKC of a dynamic slasher who can compromise the interior defense. Instead, the Thunder are forced to swing the ball along the perimeter and shoot more long-range jumpers.
Long shots equal long rebounds, and with Wemby operating with total defensive freedom, he should be able to clean up everything in sight in Game 3.
Thunder vs Spurs Game 3 Betting Prediction
- Victor Wembanyama Over 13.5 Rebounds (-140)
