Victor Wembanyama acknowledged the need for better team play after the San Antonio Spurs suffered a 123-108 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night, dropping to 2-1 in the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder came back from a 15-point deficit to secure their victory and take a 2-1 series lead. Despite his impressive performance, Wembanyama felt his individual success did not translate into team success.

Wembanyama's Reflections on Team Play

Wembanyama starred during the match, scoring 26 points in 39 minutes, and has now scored 20 or more points in three consecutive playoff games. However, he was critical of his own performance, stating that he needs to facilitate better and rebound the ball more effectively.

"It's my first playoffs. It was the first playoffs for many of us," Wembanyama said. "Of course, there were going to be hard trials. It is to be expected. But now, we're going to see what we're made of."

He added, "I have trouble making my team-mates better right now. I should do better. My shooting splits aren't terrible. I need to be more of a team player."

Thunder's Strong Bench Performance

The Thunder's bench played a significant role in their victory, scoring 76 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 26 points and 12 assists, while Jared McCain added 24 points. The Thunder's bench outscored San Antonio's by 107-28 in the first two games, raising questions about the Spurs' depth off the bench.

The Spurs began the game with a 15-0 lead but were unable to maintain their momentum, with Oklahoma's bench providing the spark needed to turn the game around.

Meanwhile, the New York Knicks secured their victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Josh Hart scoring a career-high 26 points. The Knicks now need only two more wins to reach their first NBA Finals since 1999.