Things have been getting physical in the Western Conference Finals this season. The San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder fought it out to gain the lead in Game 3 at the Frost Bank Center.
Since Game 1, energies are shifting and taking a life of their own. Things really boiled over in the third quarter, with the NBA world ready to voice its opinions about what went down in San Antonio.
Ajay Mitchell’s Foul on Stephon Castle Sparks Spurs-Thunder Scrum in Game 3
It all happened with 8:19 left in the third quarter. A simple transition play sent Stephon Castle going for a layup as Ajay Mitchell caught him from behind. Things went from bad to worse as Castle crashed toward the baseline.
Devin Vassell did not like a single bit of this, and the Spurs veteran got in Mitchell’s face. The two traded shoves as players poured in from both benches.
SPURS VS OKC GOING AT IT. 🍿🥊 pic.twitter.com/VjMlCpI47g
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 23, 2026
Whistles followed, and Mitchell drew a flagrant 1 foul for contact on an airborne Castle. He and Vassell were each hit with offsetting technicals.
An X user saw something building. “THE RIVALRY IS BREWING,” they wrote.
THE RIVALRY IS BREWING
— shiro🇧🇦 (@ming50_) May 23, 2026
Meanwhile, another user leaned into the chaos, posting, “Playoff basketball hitting different. These boys ain’t playing. Castle got that dog in him tho.”
One user wanted San Antonio to step in. “Spurs should bench Castle for a few minutes to calm him down He is really on edge.”
Spurs should bench Castle for a few minutes to calm him down
He is really on edge.
— MoA2z Sports Finance (@MoA2z) May 23, 2026
Another user kept it blunt: “OKC Dirty.”
OKC dirty
— RUI FANATIC (@therealselena23) May 23, 2026
This series was always trending toward something physical. Both teams won 60-plus games, grinding out wins in the WCFs. Both teams have been bruising each other’s egos in the first two games.
Physicality never went out of the equation. In both Games 1 and 2, the OKC Thunder were scrutinized on social media for being overly physical with Victor Wembanyama and the team.
Isaiah Hartenstein tried his best to make the night miserable for Wemby, calling himself a guy who brings physicality.
In Game 1, Chet Holmgren appeared to plant his foot on Wemby’s foot during a rebound scrum. Wemby did not react or sustain any injuries, but social media has been calling out OKC for its deliberate, dangerous actions.
After Thunder’s 123-108 Game 3 win, the series sits at 2-1 with OKC trying to defend the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Meanwhile, the Spurs will look to level it up heading into Game 4 on Sunday.
