Thunder lose to Spurs, ending their Western Conference Finals run; Alexander: We can only get better.

May 31 - According to ESPN, the Oklahoma City Thunder's title defense came to an end after losing Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals to the San Antonio Spurs. Despite a league-best regular season record of 64 wins and 18 losses, they still lost Game 7 103-111, ending their Western Conference Finals run with a 3-4 series victory.

After the game, Thunder players acknowledged the defeat and emphasized that they would not make excuses but focus on improvement. " We have no excuses, we can only get better, " said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The Thunder were significantly affected by injuries this round. Jalen Williams was sidelined for an extended period due to a hamstring injury, only briefly returning in Game 6 ; backup guard Ajay Mitchell also missed subsequent games due to a calf injury.

Chet Holmgren, the team's key center, had an inconsistent performance in the Western Conference Finals, scoring only 4 points and grabbing 4 rebounds in Game 7 , taking only 2 shots. Head coach Mark DeGnott stated that Holmgren still contributed defensively, but his offensive involvement was noticeably lacking.

Thunder forward Alex Caruso stated that injuries and rotation changes have indeed affected the team, but the team as a whole still has the foundation to contend for the championship.

“We are incredibly proud to have achieved 64 wins, such a high point differential, and overcome so many adversities throughout the season,” Degnot said. “This is the foundation upon which we can continue to move forward. When a team plays together for a long time, you have to grow from every experience, including the tough times.”

Image source: Internet