The San Antonio Spurs kept their NBA Finals hopes alive on Thursday with a commanding 118-91 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, levelling their Western Conference finals series at 3-3 and setting up a winner-takes-all game seven in Oklahoma City on Saturday.

Victor Wembanyama, the seven-foot-four French centre who was this season's unanimous NBA Defensive Player of the Year, led the charge with 28 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. After an uncharacteristically poor showing in game five, Wembanyama came out with fierce intent in what was essentially an elimination game, scoring two long-range shots and recording a block within the opening minutes to help San Antonio build a 9-2 lead. Dylan Harper contributed 18 points from the bench, and the Spurs hit eight three-pointers in the first quarter alone — their most in any single quarter this post-season.

While the Spurs' intensity dipped slightly in the second quarter, allowing the Thunder to head into half-time only seven points behind, San Antonio then produced a devastating 20-0 run in the third quarter that put the contest beyond doubt. Oklahoma City's offence completely collapsed during that stretch, missing 13 consecutive field goal attempts and scoring just 13 points in the period. With six minutes remaining and the Spurs ahead by 28, both teams' starters were rested ahead of the decider, and the home crowd broke into celebratory chants. The Thunder's reigning two-time Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had poured in 32 points in game five, was visibly unsettled throughout, frequently swarmed by San Antonio's defence.