Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs Game 3 Preview, Picks & Odds for Friday, May 22, 2026

By Braxton Reynolds | May 21, 2026, 7:33pm

Game 3 between the Oklahoma City Thunder (1-1) and San Antonio Spurs (1-1) is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Eastern on NBC. Injuries are making their mark unfortunately. De’Aaron Fox has missed both contests, while Dylan Harper and Jalen Williams sustained hamstring injuries during Game 2. Ajay Mitchell also limped to the bench after knee-to-knee contact late in the fourth quarter of Game 2.

Thunder vs. Spurs Betting Analysis

Oklahoma City increased Isaiah Hartenstein’s minutes in Game 2 significantly and reaped the rewards. He dominated the glass, created space with screens, and most importantly defended Victor Wembanyama at a high level. Hartenstein’s physicality pushed Wembanyama away from the rim, thus making the Spurs superstar less lethal.

Meanwhile, Alex Caruso had another great game off the bench. Through two games, the veteran has totaled 48 points on 16-for-26 shooting from the field. His passing off the catch, defensive intensity, and versatility are all extremely impactful, too.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also played far better in Game 2. The MVP recorded 30 points on 50% shooting from the field and dished out nine assists compared to one turnover. He was able to get to his midrange spots more frequently because Wembanyama often got caught on Hartenstein’s screens and positioning.

On the other end, San Antonio’s offense was productive. It tallied 113 points on 48/40/88 shooting splits, and three different players broke the 20-point barrier. The Spurs lost mainly because the Thunder finished with 10 more field goal attempts thanks to turnovers and offensive rebounds. San Antonio needs to be smarter with the basketball and not force passes.

The best bet for Game 3 is taking Wembanyama to record at least 15 rebounds. He’s a monster on the glass regardless of opposing lineups, and the Spurs need him to play 36+ minutes with Luke Kornet struggling. Three-point shooting regression is eventually going to hit Oklahoma City, thus giving Wembanyama more rebounding chances. Overall, the superstar has grabbed 17 and 24 rebounds in this series, and he has recorded 15+ in six of 10 games this playoffs (min. 20 minutes).

Thunder vs. Spurs Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

Best Bet: Victor Wembanyama O14.5 Rebounds (-107)
Score Prediction: Thunder 108, Spurs 107

Thunder vs. Spurs Game Odds

Thunder vs. Spurs Game Information

Date: Friday, May 22, 2026
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
Network: NBC
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Venue: Frost Bank Center – 229.7 ppg; 19-25 O/U
Series Score: Tied 1-1

Thunder vs. Spurs Betting Resources

Thunder vs. Spurs Key Players

Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Last Game: 30 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists
Jalen Williams – Last Game: 4 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists
Chet Holmgren – Last Game: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists

Spurs

Victor Wembanyama – Last Game: 21 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists
Dylan Harper – Last Game: 12 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists
Stephon Castle – Last Game: 25 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists

Braxton Reynolds

Braxton has been covering the NBA for Lineups since the 2022 season. He's worked with multiple collegiate coaching staffs regarding analytics and scouting, which has allowed him to understand the game on a deeper level. Braxton also currently writes about the Oklahoma City Thunder for Thunder Roundtable.