Magic Johnson Points to Key Spurs Issue After Thunder's Game 3 Win
Magic Johnson believes the Spurs' Game 3 loss was about more than just Oklahoma City being better on the night. After opening the series with a win, San Antonio has now dropped two straight, including a 123-108 defeat to the Thunder.
Johnson praised OKC for showing its championship toughness after falling behind early, but he also pointed out what he felt hurt the Spurs most: they lost their cool. If San Antonio wants to turn the series back around, that composure issue may need to be fixed quickly.
Following the game Johnson said,
The Oklahoma City Thunder showed us all exactly why they're the Champions tonight! They were down 15-0 to the San Antonio Spurs in the first couple minutes and came back to win the game 123-108. OKC had six players in double figures with big contributions from their bench - Jared…
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 23, 2026
"The Oklahoma City Thunder showed us all exactly why they're the Champions tonight! They were down 15-0 to the San Antonio Spurs in the first couple minutes and came back to win the game 123-108. OKC had six players in double figures with big contributions from their bench - Jared McCain had 24 points, Jaylin Williams had 18 points and the NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished a good game with 26 points! I thought the Spurs lost their cool a little bit tonight and that hurt them."
Victor Wembanyama Facing a Different Kind of Test This Series
Wembanyama is facing a different kind of test in this series, and Oklahoma City has made it very clear what that test is.
The Thunder are not giving him clean catches, easy space, or comfortable possessions. They are leaning on him, crowding him, forcing him to play through contact, and making sure every touch feels like work. It is not always pretty, but it has been effective.
For Wembanyama, the challenge now is not just about scoring through that pressure. He still put up 26 points in Game 3, so the offense is there. The bigger issue is how he responds when OKC's defense loads up on him and turns him into the main point of attention.
That is where his self-criticism came in. Wembanyama admitted he has to do a better job helping the players around him, not just trying to solve things himself. With only four rebounds and three assists in 39 minutes, he clearly felt he did not influence the game in enough different ways.
The Spurs now have to adjust quickly. Oklahoma City has found a physical formula that is bothering them, and Wembanyama knows San Antonio cannot just wait for calls or hope the matchup changes.
If the Spurs are going to get back into the series, Wembanyama has to turn that pressure into better looks for everyone else.
Related: Victor Wembanyama Admits Major Flaw After Spurs Fall Behind OKC
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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 10:50 PM.