OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder may have unlocked a blueprint to contain Victor Wembanyama, holding the Spurs superstar to a series-low 20 points on inefficient shooting in Game 5, as San Antonio now faces elimination with the Western Conference finals at 3-2 heading into Thursday's pivotal Game 6.

Wembanyama, who dominated earlier in the series with outputs of 41 and 33 points in Spurs victories, struggled against Oklahoma City's physical, team-oriented defense on Tuesday night. He finished 4-of-15 from the field, including 0-of-5 from three-point range, while relying heavily on free throws for his scoring total. The Thunder's strategy of contesting shots at the rim, using multiple defenders, and limiting easy opportunities in the paint proved effective in Game 5's 127-114 victory.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault and players have emphasized collective effort rather than relying on a single defender to slow the 7-foot-4 phenom. Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso provided physical resistance, while the team's help rotations and length made it difficult for Wembanyama to establish rhythm.

Defensive Adjustments Pay Off

In Game 5, Oklahoma City held Wembanyama to just eight points in the paint and limited him to six rebounds. The approach built on lessons from earlier matchups, where the Spurs star had exploited mismatches with his combination of size, skill and........

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