The Emirates NBA Cup Semifinal game between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday was intense. Both teams were motivated to advance to the final round and compete for the $500,000 cash prize of the In-Season Tournament. It came down to the wire, and the Spurs secured the spot to represent the Western Conference with a 111-109 win.
San Antonio gave it their all against the defending NBA champions. Fortunately for the Texas team, Victor Wembanyama was cleared to play. Their best player missed 12 straight games due to a calf strain. However, Wembanyama worked hard to return to the lineup just in time to help.
Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren (left) and San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama (right).
Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren (left) and San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama (right).
In the final play of the game, Jalen Williams intentionally missed his second free-throw attempt to give the team a chance to tie. There were 1.5 seconds left, enough to make a quick layup. Luckily for the Thunder, Alex Caruso got the rebound, and he immediately tried to put the ball back in the basket.
However, he missed the entire rim since Devin Vassell contested the shot. On Sunday, the NBA confirmed on its “Last Two Minute Report” that there was no illegal contact and Vassell did not foul Caruso on the play.
“Vassell (SAS) and Caruso (OKC) make an attempt to secure the rebound, and Vassell makes legal contact to Caruso’s hand while it is in contact with the ball,” the report stated.
This report is crucial because Caruso and center Isaiah Hartenstein didn’t like that the officials did not call a foul.
“That (expletive) was a foul,” the Thunder center said.
Caruso wasn’t far behind his teammate and was complaining about the officiating.
The Spurs gave the Thunder their second loss of the season, after a strong 24-1 start. On Wembanyama’s return, he had 22 points, nine rebounds and two blocks off the bench. San Antonio will stay in Las Vegas, Nevada, to face the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup Finals on Tuesday.