Photo: Peter Baba

The Western Conference finals open Monday night with the San Antonio Spurs carrying two key injury questions into Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. De’Aaron Fox is listed as questionable with right ankle soreness, and Luke Kornet is also questionable because of left foot soreness.

That matters because Fox has been one of San Antonio’s most important playoff engines, averaging 18.8 points and 5.8 assists per game in the 2026 postseason. He has also handled 33.3 minutes a night, so his status can shape both the Spurs’ pace and their late-game shot creation.

Kornet’s availability is just as important in a different way. He has given the Spurs 5.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game in the playoffs, and his minutes have helped stabilize the frontcourt behind Victor Wembanyama.

Oklahoma City enters Game 1 with a much cleaner report. Thomas Sorber is out while recovering from a right ACL surgery, but the Thunder otherwise have their core available for the opener on Monday, May 18 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

The Thunder also have the stronger recent run heading into the series. They swept the Lakers in four games in the West semifinals, while the Spurs closed their own series with a 139-109 win in Minnesota on Friday to take it 4-2.

San Antonio has already shown it can handle Oklahoma City in the regular season. The Spurs won three of five meetings this year, including two wins at home and one in the NBA Cup matchup, which gives this series an early familiar edge despite it being their first playoff meeting.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 29.1 points and 7.1 assists in the playoffs, while Chet Holmgren has added 18.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, giving the Thunder a steady inside-out balance.