The Thunder were in immediate trouble Friday night, falling behind the Spurs 15-0 less than three minutes into Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.
Facing an early surge from San Antonio, Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault went to his bench for the first time. The move quickly altered the flow of the game, giving the Thunder the response they needed after a difficult opening stretch.
The early substitution proved to be a turning point, as Oklahoma City’s reserves helped steady the team and reverse the momentum. What began as a one-sided start for the Spurs quickly became a more competitive contest, with the Thunder finding a spark from outside their starting group.
Bench unit changes the tone
In a high-stakes Western Conference finals matchup, the Thunder’s depth became central to their Game 3 performance. After San Antonio controlled the opening minutes, Oklahoma City’s bench helped change the pace and energy of the game.
The sequence underscored the value of timely adjustments in the postseason, particularly when a team faces a significant early deficit. For the Thunder, the first wave of substitutions did more than stop the Spurs’ opening run — it set the tone for the rest of the night.