Victor Wembanyama was playing in the grandest stage yet of his fledgling career, yet towered above the rest literally and figuratively in a classic opening to the Western Conference finals.
The French star had 41 points and 24 rebounds on Monday to lift the San Antonio Spurs over the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in a double-overtime classic.
Dylan Harper finished with 24 points and recorded a team playoff-record seven steals to aid the Spurs.
Wembanyama sealed the win with a pair of dunks in the final minute, one of them leading to a three-point play as the Spurs stole home-court advantage and beat the Thunder for the fifth time in six meetings this season.
Stephon Castle had 17 points, Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson each scored 13 and Julian Champagnie added 11 for the Spurs, who were without De'Aaron Fox because of ankle stiffness.
