Spurs Survive Thunder in Thrilling Game 7, Advance to NBA Finals
In a packed Paycom Center that shook with nervous energy from tip-off, the San Antonio Spurs outlasted the Oklahoma City Thunder 111–103 in a gripping Game 7 Saturday night to claim the Western Conference title and punch their ticket to the NBA Finals.
Victor Wembanyama was the anchor, finishing with 22 points, 7 rebounds, and a block in another commanding performance from the French phenom. But it was Julian Champagnie who delivered the knockout punch off the bench, burying six three-pointers on his way to 20 points — shooting a blistering 60% from deep when San Antonio needed every basket.
Stephon Castle added 16 points and 6 assists, while De’Aaron Fox chipped in 15 points and played suffocating defense down the stretch. San Antonio’s fast-break game was a decisive factor, outscoring OKC 19–7 in transition.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gave everything he had for Oklahoma City, pouring in 35 points on 57% shooting with 9 assists, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a Spurs team that has looked increasingly dangerous with every series.
The Thunder led briefly in the second quarter, but San Antonio used a 9–0 run to wrestle control and never looked back, building leads as large as 14 points in the second half.
The Spurs will now face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, with Game 1 scheduled for Wednesday, June 4th in San Antonio.
The rematch of two storied franchises promises must-watch basketball — and a young Spurs squad with a giant at its center appears ready for the moment.
Tip-off Wednesday at 7:30 PM CT.
A COMPLETE LOOK AT LAST NIGHT’S GAME 7 BEWTEEN THE SPURS AND THUNDER AND A LOOK AHEAD TO THE FINALS…CAN BE FOUND FURTHER DOWN THIS PAGE IN SPORTS
Austin police are investigating after officers responded to a call about a deceased person in South Austin on Saturday.
Police say the case is being treated as a suspicious death, not a homicide.
According to the department, officers found the body in a parking lot in the 4400 block of Pack Saddle Pass, near the intersection with West Ben White Boulevard.
A new unit inside the Austin Police Department is making big numbers. Drug exchanges, arresting repeated offenders, the APD public order team has a more boots on the ground approach to law enforcement in Austin.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson publicly praised the city’s first responders this week, saying their “strength, courage, and action” during the mass shooting emergency on March 1 showed the depth of their commitment to protecting residents.
In a post on X, the mayor said it was an honor to recognize police, fire, and EMS personnel, adding that their response that morning—and their daily service—reflects the sacrifice they make for the city.
Out of Williamson County….
Austin Fire officials are sounding the alarm over a recent rash of lithium-ion battery fires.
A 24-year-old man from Kyle has been charged with trying to sell what appeared to be a human skull through social media.
A deadly shooting outside an Islamic center in San Diego last week is prompting conversations about safety and security at mosques across the country, including in Austin.
Dozens of Austinites rallied at the Texas Capitol Saturday, urging Gov. Greg Abbott to reconsider his push for state immigration enforcement and calling for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to leave Texas communities.
Austin ISD staff are facing uncertainty as the district weighs job cuts to close a large budget gap.
PODCAST
The Texas Education Agency on Thursday denied the Austin Independent School District’s request for a two-year pause in accountability ratings for three of its academically struggling middle schools. The decision means that if any of the three campuses earn another F rating, the entire district could be at risk of a state takeover, including a state-appointed superintendent and a board of managers taking over district operations.
This week on Inside the Investigation, Investigative Reporter Kelly Wiley explains why the state denied the district’s application and lays out what could happen next.
(Episode from May 30, 2026)
The City of Austin is considering replacing the historic Barton Springs Road Bridge, citing concerns about the structure’s condition and long-term safety. However, preservation advocates are urging city leaders to fully explore alternatives before moving forward.
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5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
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The New York Times and The San Antonio Express-News, in a joint investigation, found students subjected to heavy-handed police tactics for behavior that once would have landed them only in the principal’s office. (Texas Tribune)
Three people died in Thursday’s apartment explosion in Dallas, including a Dallas County Democratic party leader. (Dallas Morning News)
The first lawsuit pertaining to the incident has been filed.
A group of legal and civil rights organizations late Friday sued U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over conditions at Camp East Montana in El Paso, the country’s largest immigration detention facility. (Texas Tribune)
A warrant shows Texas Rangers have launched a criminal investigation into two Houston police officers who were allegedly involved in secretly placing a GPS tracking device on a suspect’s car without a warrant.
This week, the aftermath of the Republican primary runoff, an Austin ISD student’s detention by a state trooper for ICE, an investigation into the state’s handling of unclaimed property and a new state law that now requires companies operating commercial self-driving cars in Texas to be authorized by the state.
Ken Paxton, fresh off the historic landslide victory over an incumbent U.S. senator, discusses, among other things, the “really crazy” positions that the Democrats’ nominee has taken and what Paxton has learned voters really want.
The guys recount the biggest takeaways and surprises of the primary runoff, scratch the surface on the newly set general election matchups, and preview the Texas GOP chairman’s race.
(Episode from May 30, 2026)
In the May 31 episode, Republican Party of Texas chair Abraham George and Texas Democratic Party chair Kendall Scudder discuss whether either party can truly unite after bitter primaries and how Ken Paxton and James Talarico can win over independents. And the co-chair of “Say Yes to Downtown,” Tré Black, explains why the group just released a new ad urging younger people to reimagine the future of Dallas City Hall.
Republicans are scrambling now to scrub their social media and deleting nasty comments about more than one of their GOP nominees in Texas: Bo French and Ken Paxton are at the top of the list, with the former being too extreme for Lt. Gov. Patrick and Gov. Abbott while the latter’s been blasted by US Senate Republicans as a scandal-ridden albatross. Plus, Talarico hits back on all the nicknames, talks about his girlfriend, and starts to figure out how to recalibrate after the GOP highlighted his extremely liberal previous comments which Talarico now admits were “missing the mark” and even “cringey.”
(Episode from May 29, 2026)
Could a single issue determine the fate of the U.S. Senate?
Some residents of the Texas Hill Country think so.
Voters in this deeply conservative, ruby red part of Texas are threatening to break with the GOP over a single issue: data centers. Some lifelong conservatives who feel betrayed by the Republican party say they will be voting for Democrats come November — including James Talarico who will face off against Trump-endorsed Ken Paxton, as Democrats attempt to reclaim a seat they haven’t held since 1993.
MS NOW’s Josh Einiger traveled around the Lone Star state to speak to voters about the sudden uptick in data centers and the threat they pose to rural American’s way of life.
SPORTS
COLLEGE BASEBALL: No. 1 seed Texas totaled five home runs to top No. 3 seed Tarleton State, 16-2, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday evening.
With the victory, the Longhorns (42-13) secured their spot in the Austin Regional final. Texas will face the winner of second-seeded UC Santa Barbara (39-19) and the Texans (38-20) at 5 p.m. today.
After tying a program-record with six blasts in the tournament’s opener, the Longhorns mounted their third five-homer game of the season.
STATEMENT: Texas Baseball DESTROYS Tarleton State – Moves to 2-0 in Austin Regional | Postgame Show
TODAY
COLLEGE SOFTBALL: It is win-or-go-home today at Devon Park.
The defending national champion Texas Longhorns look to keep their repeat dreams alive this afternoon in a high-stakes, elimination-match showdown against top-seeded Nebraska at the Women’s College World Series.
MLB: Saturday was a winning day.
Christian Walker hit a three-run homer and Jeremy Peña had a home run among his three hits to help the Houston Astros roll to a 9-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. (Associated Press)
Ezequiel Duran dropped a walk-off, RBI single into right field, and the Texas Rangers rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to win 7-6 over the scuffling Kansas City Royals on Saturday in Arlington, Texas.
Texas trailed 6-4 entering the ninth.
ON THE SCHEDULE
NBA PLAYOFFS: The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 111-103 in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals last night and advanced to the NBA Finals. (Associated Press)
The Spurs will face the New York Knicks.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals will be taking place in San Antonio on Wednesday, June 3rd at 7:30 p.m. CT
Victor Wembanyama scored 22 points, Julian Champagnie got 18 of his 20 off of 3-pointers.
SPURS FANS WENT HONKING
Spurs fans poured into the streets of San Antonio on Saturday night, reviving the city’s unmistakable postseason ritual of “honking” — a rolling, joyful chorus of blaring car horns that turns major intersections into impromptu victory rallies.
What began decades ago as a spontaneous celebration has become one of the franchise’s most recognizable traditions, a noisy, communal exhale that signals the city is once again buzzing with playoff energy.
