Jalen Williams' limited role sees him score one point in 10 minutes as the Thunder fall 118-91 to the Spurs, tying the Western Conference finals at two games apiece. The third-team All-NBA selection, sidelined for six playoff games with a hamstring injury, returned Thursday after missing three contests. His rust showed: he committed two turnovers, including a game-ending out-of-bounds pass, and exited without speaking to media. Coach Mark Daigneault called Williams' return a experiment, stating, "He's obviously not 100%," emphasizing the team's cautious approach to protecting their playoff run.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's struggles reach critical levels, shooting 6-of-18 for 15 points -- his worst performance since joining the NBA. The back-to-back MVP was held to 37.9% shooting in the series, with a minus-28 plus-minus matching Joel Embiid's 2023 series-low. Facing relentless pressure from Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, Gilgeous-Alexander's cold streak snapped a four-year playoff trend of 50%+ shooting. Despite averaging 24.3 points in the series, his inability to find rhythm against San Antonio's defense raises questions about his postseason legacy.

The Thunder's defense faltered spectacularly, allowing a 20-0 third-quarter run that turned the game into a blowout. San Antonio's 11 first-half 3-pointers (40%) fueled their early momentum, while Oklahoma City never led throughout the contest. With Game 7 set for Saturday at the Paycom Center, Daigneault remains noncommittal about Williams' availability, acknowledging, "There's a lot of conversations to be had." The series' outcome now hinges on whether Oklahoma City can stabilize its offense and contain Wembanyama's dominance.