2026 NBA
Western Conference Playoffs
Game Rieviews
2026 NBA
Western Conference Finals
GAME 3
2026 NBA
Western Conference Finals
GAME 4
2026 NBA
Western Conference Finals
GAME 5
2026 NBA
Western Conference Finals
GAME 6
NBA Western Finals Game 7
May 30, 2026
Final Score: TBD
San Antonio Spurs – Oklahoma Thunder /
Best of 7 Series : OKC Thunder 3 games to San Antonio Spurs 3 games
NBA Western Finals Game 6
May 28, 2026
Final Score: San Antonio Spurs 118 – Oklahoma Thunder 91 /
Best of 7 Series : OKC Thunder 3 games to San Antonio Spurs 3 games
NBA Western Finals Game 5
May 26, 2026
Final Score: San Antonio Spurs 114 – Oklahoma Thunder 127 /
Best of 7 Series : OKC Thunder 3 games to San Antonio Spurs 2 games
NBA Western Finals Game 4
May 24, 2026
Final Score: San Antonio Spurs 103 – Oklahoma Thunder 82 /
Best of 7 Series : OKC Thunder 2 games to San Antonio Spurs 2 games
NBA Western Finals Game 3
May 22, 2026
Final Score: San Antonio Spurs 108- Oklahoma Thunder 123 /
Best of 7 Series : OKC Thunder 2 games to San Antonio Spurs 1 game
NBA Western Finals Game 2
May 20 2026
Final Score: San Antonio Spurs 113 – Oklahoma Thunder 122 /
Best of 7 Series : OKC Thunder 1 game to San Antonio Spurs 1 game
May 18, 2026
Final Score: San Antonio Spurs 122 – Oklahoma Thunder 115 /
Best of 7 Series : Thunder 0 games to Spurs 1 game
2026 NBA Playoffs
San Antonio Spurs
verses
Minnesota Timberwolves
Spurs Win Series May 4th to May 15th, 2026
Spurs Win Series: 4 games -to- 2 games
2026 NBA Playoffs Highlights Videos
San Antonio Spurs
verses
Portland Trailblazers
Spurs Win Series April 28, 2026
4 games -to- 1 games
2026 NBA Finals
Game 1 / Date: June 3, 2026
Game 2 / Date: June 5, 2026
Game 3 / Date: June 8, 2026
Game 4 / Date: June 10 2026
Game 5 / Date: June 13, 2026
Game 6 / Date: June 16, 2026
Game 7 / Date: June 19, 2026
Teams to be determined
Conference winners
East: NY Knicks
West: OKC Thunder – San Antonio Spurs
May 31, 2026
The spectacular basketball of the entire Western Conference playoff series ended with the Spurs winning in a powerful display of will power and skill.
San Antonio Spurs won game 7 of the Western Conference and now moves on to face New York in the NBA finals.
Throughout the playoff, neither team was been able to control any part of the series with consecutive victories. As one team punched themselves to a win, the other team immediately punched right back in the subsequent match.
San Antonio controlled the game tonight from start to finish to maintain a narrow bouncing lead of no more than 11 points. The score was briefly tied at 63 points apiece in the third quarter. Then, Oklahoma Thunder guard Jared McCain, flipped Sterphon Cassel over his back and power drove him to the floor. In a move that resembled a WWE fight. This time the judo type take down occurred right in front of the referee, requiring him to take his whistle out of his pocket and blow it.. Similar such physical play was tolerated throughout the playoffs and Victor Wembanyama was the main recipient of the rough play.
It appeared that nothing of this aggressive physical basketball was going to stop or distract San Antonio from scoring and winning the game.
PODCAST – GAME 7 – 2026 NBA Finals & Playoffs / Podcast #7
PODCAST – The Kickabockers – 2026 NBA Finals & Playoffs / Podcast #6
PODCAST – GAME 5 – 2026 NBA Finals & Playoffs / Podcast #5
PODCAST NBA Western Conference Finals
PODCAST – Game 4 – 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoffs / Podcast #4
PODCAST – Game 3 – 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoffs / Podcast #3
PODCAST – Game 3 – 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoffs /
RACE HORSE Carter Bryant /
Podcast #2
Pressure to win is coming down on the San Antonios Spurs.
ENJOY THE PRESSURE
Carpi Deim
you’re alive … play like its your last day on earth … i
The average NBA player career has about 1,500 days as a player in the league … … these are the days …
NBA Western Finals Game 6
May 28 2026/ Thursday /Time : 8:30 EST USA
Location: San Antonio Texas USA
Final Score:
San Antonio Spurs 118
Oklahoma Thunder 91
Best of 7 Series: TBD
OKC 3 games – San Antonio 3 games / Best of 7 games series
May 29, 2026
San Antonio Spurs win game 6 of the Western Conferenc finals forcing a game 7 on Saturday May 30 in Oklahoma City OK , USA
Game six was controlled from start to finish by the Spurs. OKC did bring the score within 5 points briefly in the third period.
The required victory was a demonstration of strong individual player efforts combining for a determined united successful TEAM performance.
In the mold of the 2008 film: ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’, the young Spurs are aging exponentially daily.
The Spurs have battled to a tie in the best of seven game series and have now earned the chance to play the OKC Thunder for the NBA Western Conference Championship and the right to play in the NBA Finals.
There is nothing worse, regarding competition, for a goal drive championship seeking basketball player to lose a championship final game at home, and listen, from the quite locker room full of disappointment post game, to the opposing team celebrate in their arena. By winning game 6, the Spurs have avoided this tearful miserable experience.
However, the task of winning on the road is now at hand. They will try to make the Thunder hear the Spurs celebration echoes in the Paycom Center Saturday night in Oklahoma City.
Date May 27, 2026
By: Mr. Fat Hat
Title: The importance of regular season game outcomes
In the NBA the home team wins more often than the road team. A book can be written on this win advantage subject. But tonight it mattered significantly to Oklahoma City.
Tonights OKC Thunder win in game 5 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals is a perfect example of why an NBA team wants the best regular season record, thus having home court advantage in the post season playoffs. OKC had the best 2026 regular season record in the NBA.
The Spurs had 62 regular season wins (62-18), the OKC Thunder had 64 (64-20). Consider, only two regular season games separate these teams, but the difference is magnified tonight.
In a regular season schedule – that last and grinds on from October until April – of eighty-two games, (82), plus a few preseason n warm up games, two games can appear insignificant. But in late May and June, if the team is still fortunate to be playing basketball, those two games can make the difference between advancing to the NBA Finals or ending the season.
After this game 5 playoff victory, OKC now needs to win just one of the next two games. Even if they lose game six at San Antonio on Thursday, the Thunder will return to Oklahoma City for another chance to win in game seven. That’s why championship teams desire the best possible regular season record. The San Antonio Spurs must now win both remaining playoff games to advance to the NBA 2026 Finals. Nobody can dispute it is more difficult to win two playoff games than it is to win one playoff game.
Neither team has been able to put back-to-back victories on the score board in this Western Conference Finals series. The Spurs are hoping this holds true for the next game, and they can force a game seven.
Awaiting the outcome of the battle in the West are the New York Knicks, resting and rejuvenating as they await the winner. Sweeping a playoff series also has important advantages. Nevertheless, the Knicks will not have home court advantage at the start of the NBA Finals in June, as they had a (53-29) regular season record..
The Spurs still have a chance – as we have said, “it ain’t over before the fat lady sings” – (read article below), but the boys from Texas need an ‘Alamo’ style victory stand and fight. They must now beat the odds.
When the team with home court advantage wins game 5 in a tied series, that team wins the series 80% of the time. The San Antonio Spurs will now try to be one of the 2 out of 10 teams to beat the odds. Not impossible, but very difficult.
The sixth game of the series is May 28th, Thursday, in San Antonio, only 48 hours from the important game 5 OKC victory, a game that was partially won months ago in the regular season, by just two simple game victories.
… … . If required, game seven is scheduled for May 30, 2026 Saturday 8:00 PM EST / USA / Location: Oklahoma City, OK USA
NBA Western Conference Finals Now The Best of Three as the series is tied at two games each. Oklahoma Thunder hold home court advantage. However, this advantage may not surmount to much of a determining factor, as both teams have already demonstrated the ability to win on the road.
1949 NBA Pistons vs Knicks Rare Full Game
NY Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Full Game Highlights Video: May 25, 2026
Date May 25, 2027
By: Mr. Fat Hat
Title: The Knickerbockers
The New York Knickerbockers advanced to the 2026 NBA Finals by winning the first four games of the 2026 Eastern Conference Playoffs Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday the Memorial Day Weekend Holiday. The Knicks dominated every game in the series from start to end.
The NY Knicks return to the NBA Finals after a 27 year hiatus. The world of basketball will now witness the return of the game to its roots as the Knicks attempt to win the crown jewels of an NBA Championship Trophy and Gold Diamond rings!
New York City is well know as the ‘Capitol of Basketball’ with a deep rich history reaching into the 1946 origins of the NBA, and to the first professional professional basketball teams and players from 1900 -48 .
Today, the New York City NBA basketball team is globally known as the New York Knicks. The current teams’ nickname ‘Knicks’ stems from the organization’s actual original name Knickerbockers. The name “Knickerbockers” comes from the loose-fitting pants rolled up just below the knee, which were worn by Dutch settlers who colonized New Amsterdam (now New York) in the 1600s. The first basketball players of the 20th century (1900’s) wore knickerbockers as basketball uniforms. The original first use of the name Knickerbockers goes back to the 1858 New York Baseball team. These New York baseball players set the ‘knickerbocker pants fashion style’ – used by athletes for next 60 years. Yes, the NYC sports scene was setting fashion long before Spike Lee.
The modern day NBA basketball New York Knickerbockers officially shortened their name to the New York Knicks before the start of the 1949–1950 NBA season. Fans and the media had already been using “Knicks” as a shorthand nickname since the franchise was founded in 1946.
New York City, NY, as hosting one of the very first professional basketball teams and a National Basketball Association (NBA) original pillar organization, has a long history and connection to the game. For many decades, NYC was famous for having the best professional players and the best amateur players in their many famous outdoor park games. Ruckers Park, the Greenich Village Chain Court and many more locations became famous hoops locations throughout the entire world.
Dozens of globally famous players have roots into the famous outdoor park tournaments. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Irving top the list of hundreds of great players who came from the street game of New York … … .
The First NYC Champions the 1949 New York Knicks:
Coached by Joe Lapchick, the Knicks finished the 1949–50 season with a 40-28 record, placing 2nd in the Eastern Division and making it to the Eastern Division finals. Their roster featured notable players like Carl Braun, Harry Gallatin, and Dick McGuire
They city holds proud and rightful ownership to the game of basketball’s origins. But don’t dare mention it to a proud current day Knick fan in New York City, but the very first NYC professional basketball team was called the NY CELTICS. Yes, it is true and factual … the 1918 New York Celtics were NYC’s first professional basketball team.
A good understanding of how professional basketball teams operated and made money in the 1910 to 1930 time period can be found in a review of the 1918 (New York ) NY Celtics.
There is NO team organizational relationship to the current day Boston Celtics with the early NY Celtics. Coincidentally they share a nickname. But in today’s NBA, the Knicks and Celtics remain strong rivals, so be very careful what you say about the NY Celtics in the presence of Knick fans. Asking the nickname of the first pro team in NYC, does, however, make a great trivia question or a good bar bet in New York City, if you are willing to take the risk.
The Original 1918 N.Y Celtics were a barnstorming professional American basketball team. At various times in their existence, the team played in the American Basketball League, the Eastern Basketball League and the Metropolitan Basketball League.
The N.Y. Celtic’s roots lay in the New York Celtics team that disbanded during World War One. In 1918, James Furey assembled his own team around a nucleus of those truly “original” Celtics, adding other players mostly from the West Side of New York City, and defiantly called his new squad the Original Celtics. Initially, they played in various struggling professional leagues, before becoming primarily a touring squad, which traveled up to 150,000 miles a year while completing a 150–200 game schedule. They won about ninety percent of their games and finished 1922–23 with the unbelievable record of 193–11–1.
Compare that playing schedule to today’s new age pampered NBA player requirement for off rest days .
After a World War II hiatus of professional basketball, in 1946 many of the NYC pre-war basketball financiers and executives created the current day NBA organization the New York (Knicks) Knickerbockers.
Next month in June, during the 2026 NBA finals games, the NY Knicks will not be wearing ‘Knickerbockers’ , but the team will always be the New York Knickerbockers to basketball fans worldwide!
Mr. Fat Hat’s: A Deep History into the Game of Basketball:
The NY Knicks will open the finals game 1, on June 3, 2026, on the road against the Western Conference Playoff winner, the San Antonio Spurs. .
The Knicks are set to start the the 2026 Finals conceding home court advantage to their opponent. The Western Conference team will begin the best of seven game series at home, as they have had a better regular season record than the NY Knickes.
2026 NBA Finals Scheduled Games:
[ Game 1 / Date: June 3, 2026 / Game 2 / Date: June 5, 2026 / Game 3 / Date: June 8, 2026 / Game 4 / Date: June 10 2026 / IF Required – Game 5 / Date: June 13, 2026 /If required – Game 6 / Date: June 16, 2026 / If required – Game 7 / Date: June 19, 2026]
Western Conference Team San Antonio Spurs
Date May 25, 2027
The New York Knickerbockers Sweep Into the 2026 NBA Finals
PODCAST – The Kickabockers – 2026 NBA Finals & Playoffs / Podcast #5
Spurs win game four of the 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoff Finals
… … with their backs pushed against the wall
UNDER PRESSURE
Game Four 2026 Western Conference Finals
“Backs Against The Wall”
Date: May 25, 2026
By: Mr. Fat Hat
The 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoff Finals between San Antonio and Oklahoma City.
Location: San Antonio , Texas, USA
After the lose of the Spurs to the Thunder in game three of the NBA playoffs, the fandom and the entire city of San Antonio sensed a pressure for a need to win game four. Some said the pressure was palpable throughout the city. But this pressure wasn’t the heaviest most influential emotion surrounding the team between games three and four. It was the post game return of ‘Pop‘ (a.k.a. El Jefe,) into the Spurs locker room.
Since Coach Greg Popovich’s recovery from a severe stroke in November 2024, the San Antonio Spurs five time NBA Championship winning coach, ‘Pop’, has made his way back to verbally advising the team. On a few occasions, Popovich has made his way, slowly walking unassisted with a few former players escorting from behind, into the Spurs practice facility. He often sits watching on the sideline and has a few short one-on-one conversations individually with players and coaches. He doesn’t instruct as a floor coach nor interrupt the activities. Those days of physical activities are over. Despite Coach Popovich’s physically limitations, his mental capacities remain intact. He may have lost his speedy step, but he didn’t lose decades of knowledge about how to play NBA championship basketball.
After the dismal disappointing game three playoff loss of the Spurs, for the first time ‘Pop’ walked into the locker room. The locker room doors were sealed, the room was filled with only members of the Spurs organization, And then, as he has been well known to do, ‘Pop’ cut loose – I mean footloose – with his honest and verbally brutal assessment of the players effort and performance in game three.
During Coach Popovich’s long and successful career, similar such verbal escapades occurred. Coach has a famous successful reputation for confronting players verbally and mentally, pushing players with what he says, sometimes to the point when these gifted well paid millionaire basketball players literally would stand right up with their backs against the wall and argue with coach Pop. Just ask Hall of Fame and NBA Championship player, Manu Ginobili, about the pressure ‘Pop’ can express and apply in a closed post game locker room after a bad loss. Coach Pop has himself stated in hindsight, that he was ‘very very hard‘ on Tony Parker.
Coach Popovich is often in the modern ‘softer’ less physically era of the NBA basketball league called ‘Ole School’. Well, Coach Pop was always and remains ‘Ole School’. His age never determined his school of thought, correctness and perfection was the objective and motivation. The 2026 Spurs team got an ‘Ole School’ forthright direct honest truthful verbal lecture direct from ‘El Jefe’! The room listened in silence, but the pressure of truth was made apparent to all those present. Game four results would indicate that the message resulted in a change in behavior and performance.
Prior to game four, it was NOT the pressure from the Spur fans and the media hype outside of the locker room which was most felt by the team and organization, it was the critical but factual words of Coach Popovich which struck deepest.
The message to the team from Coach Pop, drilled into him from his days long ago at the Air Force Academy, you might lose a basketball game, you might lose something important in life, but you do NOT suffer that loss without being absolutely 100% certain you ‘GAVE EVERYTHING YOU CAN POSSIBLE GIVE’ to avoid loosing. If you do this, in that case and situation, the results will eventually become acceptable.
Sounds like an appropriate verbal message coming from an Air Force Cadet on Memorial day weekend, doesn’t it.
Top secret military information: Coach Greg Popovich, is also known as ‘The General’ .
Yes. (a.k.a.) Pop, (a.k.a.) El Chefe, (a.k.a.) Coach Pop, is also (a.k.a.) ‘The General of NBA Championship Basketball, (a.k.a.) General Hoops Popovich’
Above Videos, Coach Greg Popovich and Hall of Fame Basketball Player Tim Duncan attending game 4 of the Western Conference finals in San Antonio, TX, May 24, 2026 / David Bowie and Queen Live performance, ‘ Under Pressure’ , Wembley Stadium London 1989
THE GENERAL
In 1979 – after six years as an assistant coach at his alma mater, The United State Air Force Academy – a 30-year-old Popovich was named the head coach at Pomona-Pitzer, a hiring that was largely relegated to the agate pages or as a bullet point in notebooks in a small handful of California newspapers.
Greg Popovich never proclaimed to be the ‘right‘ basketball Coach for every basketball player. He never told players they were doing something correctly, when he observed and thought it should be performed otherwise. And, he seldomly held back from verbally telling players what he had determined was correct and necessary. What he knew would move the team closer to victory was going to be performed his way.
This method of coaching is difficult for most all professional basketball players who have already reached a top skill level and an NBA professional career.
Coach Popovich’s methods were strongly influenced by his many years at the United States Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs, CO. He was a player and later an assistant coach of the basketball program at Air Force, the United States premier school of military training for the branch of the military that flies planes. Attending the Academy is not a path suitable for most young men and women. A place of academic and athletic challenge and excellence. The Air Force Academy competes in one of the countries top athletic conferences. The university level education, the military rigor, and the demands of athletics is that which prepares boys to be men. Coach Pop knows this extraordinarily demanding program inside and out.
Just like the Air Force Academy, playing basketball for Popovich was not suitable for all professional players.
Everyone who completes the rigors of the Academy flies. All cadets can be seen floating in glider airplanes above the foothills of the Colorado mountains, all Academy cadets are taught to fly, all graduating cadets reach a level of success. But only a select view are chosen to attend and even less complete the demanding four years of education and trials of becoming a man ready to lead other men into war.
Greg Popovich expected no less from his professional basketball players at San Antonio.
His methods could be compared to the legendary Indiana University Coach Robert (Bob) Knight, who coached at another military academy West Point.
Coach Knight won three NCAA championships, tons of Big Ten conference championships, more college games than only but a handful of other college coaches, and most importantly, if you survived four years playing for Coach Knight, you had a college degree. Indiana basketball under Knight had the highest rate of graduating players in the entire country.
However, Coach Knight’s career ended in an abrupt controversial manner, as he was fired by Indiana University after decades of success.
Nobody was ever strongly convinced that the Coach Knight style and techniques would be effective in the professional level NBA. As one of only a few who had tried, Coach Popovich proved a discipline, direct and military style method of coaching could function in the NBA. He adapted his personal manners into this technique and demonstrated it worked. This was proven by the five championship trophies now on display at the Frost Center, home of the San Antonio Spurs.
Some might say, Coach Greg Popovich’s greatest success is winning NBA championship trophies. Many people would say his greatest accomplishment is providing the young men he coached in the San Antonio Spurs organization a taste of the ‘Air Force Ways‘.
Greg Popovich
A Ledgend
With Spurs On His Boots
Pop’s Players Love Him
Pop’s Players Love Him
… … … but not all of ’em
&
most of ’em, did NOT love him ALL the time!
GAME FOUR
Pressure to win is coming down on the San Antonios Spurs.
ENJOY THE PRESSURE
Carpi Deim
you’re alive … play like its your last day on earth … i
The average NBA player career has about 1,500 days as a player in the league … … these are the days …
Above Videos, Coach Greg Popovich and Hall of Fame Basketball Player Tim Duncan attending game 4 of the Western Conference finals in San Antonio, TX, May 24, 2026 / David Bowie and Queen Live performance, ‘ Under Pressure’ , Wembley Stadium London 1989
THE POWER OF PRAYER IN SPORTS
“The Dunk Loving Nuns”
Date: May 24, 2026
By: Mr. Fat Hat
Location: San Antonio, Texas
The 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoff Finals between San Antonio and Oklahoma City.
Some people believe, God doesn’t determine the winner and loser of sports outcomes and basketball games. Many people believe only the referees determine the winner of games. But don’t all people believe that God grants every basketball player and athlete the blessing of health, mind and the ability to ‘play’ every basketball game. It’s difficult to explain the astonishing level of performance of all the players from both teams on the court while watching Sunday’s basketball game without believing in the faith that something unusual might have been bestowed by a higher power upon their life.
It is miraculous to watch every year – since 1949 – what God provides to every NBA player, as their health and well being are displayed in their athletic performance during the months of May and June at the yearly NBA playoffs. Sunday, was one of those days.
Prayer, meditation, moments of mental peace, calm thoughts, solace most always seems to contribute to a basketball player’s preparation before a basketball game. The ‘Sisters’ of San Antonio were practicing just that principal on the court of the Frost Bank arena prior to the fourth game of the 2026 NBA Western Conference Finals.
Sitting court side as sponsored guest of Luke, the ‘Sisters’ clapped, cheered and laid hands of prayer on the head of a participant player in devote faithful prayer.
No, these women were not Sisters of any singing group. They were not guests of the Luke, the man who wrote chapters in the bible. These ‘Sisters’ are basketball loving, dunk crazy, cheering Nuns. Religious sisters sitting in seats provided by Spurs center Luke Kornet. …. … . These women were serious Spur fans with white habits and full length religious gowns, and black fan game jerseys of their different favorite players draped over their religious attire. These fanatical hoop loving nuns are the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco from San Antonio.
The four Salsesian Sisters were praying with Luke Cornet, the San Antonio Spurs 7 foot center basketball player, court side before the game Sunday. Then after pregame prayer, the Nuns clapped, screamed, (somewhat softly, as Nuns usually do), stood shaking pompoms, booed, applauded and cheered Luke and his team to victory.
A religious act and a profession of faith demonstrating that human action and encouragement may seem to help in God’s blessings and determinations.
The blessing of the Nuns didn’t seem to cause any harm and it might have even contributed to a successful result in their brother Luke’s basketball performance, as he had an excellent performance in game four of the 2026 playoffs.
Luke Kornet had 6 points, 3 for 4 field goals, 7 rebounds and 2 blocked shots in only 13 minutes of play. He looked sharp on defense, active and perhaps blessed.
Faith is debatable, final game stats and winning game results are indisputable.
San Antonio Spurs Now 1-0 When Blessed By Nuns
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander PRODUCTS
Date: May 23, 2026
By: Mr. Fat Hat
One might apply the famous (sports) phrase, “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings” to the 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoff Finals between San Antonio and Oklahoma City.
“It ain’t over till the fat lady sings” is a classic proverb meaning that you should never presume the final outcome of an event until it is completely finished.
It cautions against prematurely giving up hope or jumping to conclusions.
The phrase stems from an old stereotype in opera where productions were presumed to be complete before the final stage act, specifically Richard Wagner’s epic opera: ‘Der Ring des Nibelungen’, also known as -Das Rheingold, which took him 26 years to write. The Opera explores timeless themes of greed, power, and corruption through a mythical saga of gods, heroes, and a cursed magic ring … … … . The Opera concludes with a lengthy closing aria sung by a heavyset soprano (typically portraying the character Brünnhilde). The audience mistakenly presumes the conclusion within a long ending dramatic stage act. Nevertheless, only once the main character completes her singing performance of the last note of the final song, does the audience know for certain that the show is definitively completed. Thus, ‘it ain’t over until she sings‘.
After last nights third 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoff game, the question now at hand is, will the ‘Fat Lady’ sing ‘Oklahoma’!
‘Oklahoma’ is a landmark musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, which premiered on Broadway in 1943 revolutionizing musical theater with its integrated story, song, and dance, and its focus on a realistic American setting. Set in Indian Territory around 1900, it tells the love story of cowboy Curly and farm girl Laurey, amidst a rivalry between farmers and cowboys, culminating in the excitement of Oklahoma’s upcoming statehood. The show was a massive success, breaking Broadway records and leading to a famous 1955 film adaptation, and its title song became the official state song of Oklahoma in 1953.
Sports Origins:
While rooted in opera, the idiom was popularized in American sports journalism.
The Philadelphia Flyers Connection:
The phrase is often associated with iconic singer Kate Smith. She famously sang “God Bless America” before Philadelphia Flyers games as a good-luck token beginning in 1969. While she sang at the beginning of games, her performances became synonymous with the team’s relentless, fighting spirit during playoff battles, making a statement that the hockey team would win the next hockey game and return home for additional matches before submission to defeat, despite being behind in the playoffs.
Broadcaster Dan Cook made the sports reference famous to basketball fans during the 1978 NBA playoffs to remind fans that a trailing team could still make a comeback.
Yes, indeed, “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings” regarding the 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoff Finals between the Spurs and Thunder.
Nevertheless, after last nights game three, one should ask, is the ‘Fat Lady’ warming up her singing voice to perform the famous epic theater song ‘Oklahoma’?
San Antonio and Oklahoma City have battled on the basketball court 8 times in the 2026 NBA season. The Spurs won four of five games during the regular season, all completed months ago. Recently, the Thunder have now won two of three games in the NBA Western Conference Finals.
History has proven, the playoffs are NOT the regular season. The playoffs are different in many manners, shapes, and forms. There is an increased competitive nature and the complete focus on a single opponent during a best of seven game series. Injuries and schematic adjustments weigh heavily in the outcome of the games. These factors have been magnified in the completion between the Thunder and the Spurs. Both teams are dealing with important players injuries. Game Schematic adjustments have been implemented rapidly. Both teams are desperately trying to exercise their strengths and deter the opponents. This process has facinating to watch in this series.
Each team has exploited their opponent. Many regular season unseen and unrecognized player, team, coaching, and organizational weaknesses come out as common knowledge during the NBA playoff competition. Those who know the game of basketball well, now, after last nights game, have observed the Thunder expose the weakness of the Spurs in all the above categories. Most apparently, the OKC Thunder have found a method of play to neutralize Victor Wembanyama’s (a.k.a. Wemby ) unusual talents and regular season dominance.
After last nights Oklahoma City Thunder road game victory against the San Antonio Spurs by the score of 123 – to – 108, in the third game of the best of seven series, the fat lady’s song must be changed by the Spurs in their home playoff game four scheduled May 24th , on Sunday, if they are to avoid standing on the brink of elimination. Otherwise, the Thunder will be on their home court in Oklahoma City on May 27th, on the verge of winning the playoff series and listening to the Fat Lady Sing Oklahoma.
Is The ‘Fat Lady’ Singing ‘Oklahoma’
“It ain’t over till the fat lady sings”
OKC Thunder Win Game Three of the 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoffs
Date: May 22, 2026
FLocastion: Frost Center, San Antonio , Texas
Game Info: Game 3 of the NBA 2026 Western Conference Finals
NBA Teams:
Oklahoma City Thunder
San Antonion Spurs
Final Score: OKC Thunder 123 – San Antonios Spurs 108
The Thunder re-take home court advantage in the best of seven series and now lead 2 games to 1 game.
The team that wins Game 3 of a best-of-7 series tied at 1-1 goes on to win the series 73.2% of the time.
Date: May 23, 2026
By: Mr. Fat Hat
Yesterday, San Antonio, Texas was a city of ecstatic proud fans celebrating their beloved professional basketball team, the San Antonio Spurs. Optimism and expectations of further success in the 2026 NBA Championship quest was demonstrated throughout the streets from the early morning hours and accumulated inside the Frost Bank basketball arena until tip-off.
For the first five minutes of the game inside the Spurs home court arena, the cheering crowd and noise was deafening. The Spurs jumped out to an astonishing 15 point to 0 advantage. The crowd was frenzied. But then, slowly and gradually, the OKC Thunder took control of the basketball game, gained and held a lead in the score, and tempered and choked the enthusiasm of Spurs fans, with their game three dominating victory.
There was a noticeable fandom feeling that the current 2026 Spurs basketball team was returning to the success of the earlier years, when the Spurs accumulated five NBA Championships and built a dynasty.
Fans believed A 2026 NBA Championship was going to be lead by their 22 year-old Seven foot five inch basketball phenom, Victor Wembanyama, ( a.k.a. ‘Wemby’ ). Why not believe in future glory. The Spurs were returning to their home court for game three of the 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoff finals, after winning in game one on the road in Oklahoma City against the defending NBA Champions OKC Thunder. The Spurs had stolen home court advantage from the Thunder in the game one victory.
The fans were confident that ‘Wemby’ was going to carry the city and organization, yet again, to the delights of another NBA Championship trophy. The city was engulfed into a manic ‘Fiesta‘!
However, by the end of the night, the party was ended and the lights and music died out as the Spurs were defeated 123-108 by the Thunder.
The Spurs jumped out to a dominating 15-0 game start, but soon thereafter, the Thunder remained steady and Spurs vulnerabilities were exposed. The Thunder were winning by seven points at half-time. The Spurs never lead after the Thunder took control of the game with strong scoring from their talented steady bench players and entire team.
The San Antonio spurs did not give into defeat without a fight. Within the last few minutes remaining in the game, the Spurs floated between a 7-10 point deficit . But the home team never lead and couldn’t apply the pressure of a close game.
As the Spurts fan euphoria gave into submission and defeat, a deeper realization was occurring with the fans. The Thunder were an NBA defending Championship team poised and designed for success. The Thunder had demonstrated that they had the unique ability to neutralize Wembanyama’s great skills and size advantages, and more importantly, they could control their opponent on the basketball court.
After this sharp edge defeat, the Spurs fans could only proclaim, ‘ it ain’t over until the fat lady sings’! Game four of the NBA Western Conference Finals is scheduled for Sunday May 24th, at Frost Bank arena. Don’t expect the Spurs fan base to remain silent as the fat lady warms up her singing voice. There will be plenty of noise and effort on the court to drown her voice.
NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 / Game 2 / Game 3
May 19/25 – 2026
Location: NY,New York
Teams: NY Knicks verses Clevland Cavs
Series : NY Knicks lead 3 games – Clevleand 0 games
Best of 7 games
TSR Sports: Live San Antonio Spurs Game Play-by Play Broadcast.
San Antonio Spurs play-by-play LIVE & GLOBAL on youtube. / TSR Sports PO Box 8031 Manchester, CT 06040
Twitter: twitter.com/TSRsports50
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@TSRSports50
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