Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stars as Oklahoma City Thunder level series against San Antonio Spurs

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 30 points to inspire his team to a 122-113 win over the San Antonio Spurs as the reigning NBA champions tied the Western Conference finals at 1-1.

Gilgeous-Alexander – who won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award for the second year in a row – also dished out nine assists in their second home game of the best-of-seven series.

Spurs star Victor Wembanyama scored 41 points in the opening game but was limited to 21 in the second game.

“The guys brought it tonight, knowing what it would mean if we lost it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.

“We brought energy from the jump.”

The game was tied at 31 after the first quarter before the Thunder took an 11-point lead into halftime.

The Spurs tied the match midway through the third and got within two points of their rivals in the fourth quarter but the Thunder pulled away each time to win.

“We got a W, all you can ask for. Now we have to go on the road against a really good team and go get one,” said Gilgeous-Alexander.

Games three and four will be held in San Antonio on Friday and Sunday.

The New York Knicks edged the Cleveland Cavaliers 1-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday in New York.