Lillard criticizes – Damian Lillard took to X to question officiating after the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 123-108 in Game 3, reclaiming home-court advantage and moving to a 2-1 series lead. The game featured 53 combined fouls, and Lillard’s post followed con
The tone around the Thunder–Spurs Western Conference Finals has turned sharper, and it didn’t cool off after Game 3.
Damian Lillard, a star for the Portland Trail Blazers, wrote on X: “Refs doin too much,” following Oklahoma City’s 123-108 win over San Antonio on Friday night. The loss set the stage for another round of officiating debate after a postseason game already heavy with stoppages.
Game 3 carried 53 combined fouls, with the Thunder called for 28 and the Spurs whistled for 25. That number came after Game 2, when both teams committed 21 fouls each—another reason the complaints have stayed in the spotlight rather than fading into the background.
The scrutiny has been building across the series. After Game 2. there was criticism involving Oklahoma City center Isaiah Hartenstein not being penalized for pulling Stephon Castle’s hair during a sequence that drew widespread attention. With that memory still fresh. Lillard’s public jab landed in the same place as the earlier frustrations: the moments that decide momentum and. sometimes. the entire tone of a game.
On the court, Oklahoma City carved its way back. The Thunder overcame an early 15-0 deficit to reclaim home-court advantage and take a 2-1 series lead. It was the Spurs’ opening surge that set the standard for this series—an opening run that became the longest to start a conference finals game since play-by-play tracking began in 1997.
De’Aaron Fox. returning from a sprained right ankle. helped kick-start the run with an opening layup before Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell connected from 3-point range. San Antonio also got production across the board: Wembanyama finished with 24 points. Vassell scored 20. and Fox added 15 points. seven assists and six rebounds in his series debut.
But Oklahoma City answered with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The MVP finished with 26 points and 12 assists, despite not scoring in the first quarter. He was also perfect at the free-throw line. going 12-for-12. and the Thunder continued a key trend from the series—when Oklahoma City performs better at the line. it wins.
The late separation didn’t come from star power alone. Oklahoma City’s bench again shifted the game: the reserves outscored San Antonio’s bench 76-23. Jared McCain delivered a playoff career-high 24 points, and Jaylin Williams added a playoff-best 18. Alex Caruso chipped in with 15 points, while Cason Wallace finished with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Through three games, Oklahoma City’s depth has been a runaway advantage in scoring. The Thunder’s bench now holds a 183-64 scoring advantage over San Antonio’s reserves.
Game 4 is next. The Spurs will host the Thunder on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET with one goal: avoid falling behind 3-1.
Damian Lillard Thunder Spurs Game 3 officiating Isaiah Hartenstein Stephon Castle Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Victor Wembanyama Devin Vassell De'Aaron Fox Jared McCain Jaylin Williams