From The Sports Desk: Thunder strike

May 21, 2026 - 22:53

The Oklahoma City Thunder refused to let their season slip away on their home floor, battling back to even the Western Conference Finals with a hard-fought 122-113 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The win snaps a two-game losing streak for the Thunder and shifts the momentum of the series as it heads back to San Antonio for Game 5.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 34 points and 8 assists, finding his rhythm after a quiet Game 3. The Thunder's defense tightened in the second half, holding the Spurs to just 41 percent shooting after the break. Chet Holmgren added a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Jalen Williams chipped in 22 points off the bench.

For the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama put up another monster stat line with 31 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks, but he got little help from his supporting cast. Devin Vassell was the only other Spur in double figures with 15 points. San Antonio's bench was outscored 42-18, a gap that proved too large to overcome.

The series now shifts to a pivotal Game 5, with both teams knowing the next win could be the one that tips the balance for good.

Elsewhere in Sports: Grand Prix Drama in Montreal

Over in Formula 1, the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal delivered a chaotic race that saw Max Verstappen survive two safety car periods and a late-race downpour to take the checkered flag. The win extends Verstappen's lead in the drivers' championship, but the real story was the battle behind him. Fernando Alonso drove a masterful race to finish second, holding off a charging Lewis Hamilton in the final laps. Hamilton's Mercedes showed improved pace but still lacked the raw speed to challenge for the win. The race also saw a scary crash involving Logan Sargeant, who walked away after his Williams slammed into the wall on the back straight. The incident brought out a red flag and delayed the restart, but the American driver was cleared by medical staff. With the season now past the halfway mark, the championship fight is tightening, though Verstappen remains the clear favorite.