The San Antonio Spurs have advanced to the NBA Finals after defeating the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 in a decisive Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.

Led by Victor Wembanyama, who posted a team-high 22 points and seven rebounds, the Spurs overcame a strong Thunder team that entered the season as defending champions and had been widely expected to contend again for the title.

San Antonio’s victory marks their first Finals appearance since 2015 and sets up a historic rematch against the New York Knicks, recalling their 1999 Finals meeting, which the Spurs won.The game saw Oklahoma City shorthanded, missing key contributors Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell due to injury.

Despite a standout performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 35 points, the Thunder were unable to close the gap after falling behind early.

San Antonio built momentum through fast-paced transition offense and key contributions from De’Aaron Fox, who scored 15 points, and Julian Champagnie, who added 20 points in a surprise scoring effort.

Although the Thunder briefly threatened a comeback in the fourth quarter when Wembanyama picked up his fifth foul, San Antonio maintained control and closed out the game.The Spurs had previously trailed 3-2 in the series but won two straight games to advance.The upcoming NBA Finals will begin on June 3 in San Antonio, with Games 3 and 4 shifting to New York.

The Knicks enter the Finals on an 11-game playoff winning streak, setting up a highly anticipated championship series between two teams led by first-season head coaches.