The fiesta party lasted just five minutes inside the Frost Bank Center on Friday night. For the few minutes of Game 3, it felt like the San Antonio Spurs were going to take full control of the Western Conference Finals. Then, the offense vanished just as quickly as it appeared.

After racing out to a 19-4 lead, the Spurs went ice cold for the next three quarters as the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied for the 123-108 victory to retake home court advantage and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

For the Spurs, it is a loss that will likely linger long past the final buzzer. Not because the Spurs looked overwhelmed at times, but rather more because they looked more than capable of delivering a big knockout blow before things went south.

“We were really sharp to start the game, and you know, obviously didn’t sustain it, and that wasn’t sustainable how we started, but I thought we played very fast, and I think that’s something that tapered off as the game went along,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said after the Game 3 loss.

Victor Wembanayama finished with 26 points, but he was mostly held outside of the paint for the most part and had just four rebounds. Devin Vassell was easily the best player on the court Friday night for the Spurs, scoring 20 points while adding four steals and seven rebounds. De’Aaron Fox returned (then left and returned again) to the lineup, scoring 15 points in series debut.

After San Antonio’s explosive start, Oklahoma City took control and never let it go again. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled from the floor, shooting 35 percent, but still had 26 points thanks to hitting all 12 of his free throws. The issue for San Antonio in this series has been the OKC bench, and it was again on Friday.

Jared McCain exploded for 24 points off the bench while Jaylin Williams added 18 points as the Thunder’s second unit outscored San Antonio’s bench 76-23 for the game. Through three games this series, Oklahoma City’s bench has outscored the Spurs’ bench 183-64. That figure has slowly altered this series in the Thunder’s favor.

San Antonio took a five-point lead into the second quarter, and that’s where their offense went dry. The ball movement, attacking the rim, and timely shot making disappeared as Oklahoma City tightened up on defense and turned the Spurs’ missed shots into transition points. By the third quarter, the Thunder looked to be in full control. 

Every time the Spurs pushed, the Thunder had a response. A McCain three, a big shot from Gilgeous-Alexander, or a Jaylin Williams corner bucket. The roar of the crowd faded as Oklahoma City turned a 15-point deficit into a 15-point lead of its own. San Antonio never got close enough in the final 12 minutes to make a game of it.

The loss spoiled Fox’s return, who re-injured his ankle in the third quarter, but returned to the game like a true warrior to try and help his team win. Dylan Harper was clearly feeling the effects of his adductor injury, scoring just six points on 28 percent shooting. The Spurs had hoped that having their team back at full strength would solve the turnover woes that plagued them in the first two games, but instead, it was their offense that suffered.

“I’m sure they’re beat up, they’re giving us everything they got, so it’s commendable, just the fight that they have,” Johnson said of Fox and Harper playing through injuries.

Now with Game 4 looming in less than 48 hours, the pressure falls squarely on the Spurs as they face a 2-1 series deficit.

“Each and every one of us got to be better, so yeah, I think it’s just as a team, as an organization, there’s a lot of new experiences, we’re just gonna have to find the answers,” Wembanyama said.

After stealing Game 1 on the road and briefly taking momentum, San Antonio now finds themselves searching for answers to solve a Thunder team whose depth continues to tilt the matchup.

• Stephon Castle had just one turnover after combining for 20 in the first two games of the series. The new problem? He shot just 1-of-8 on Friday, finishing with 14 points.
• Keldon Johnson, Harper and Castle combined to shoot 4-for-20 in the game. That’s not a stat that will win you games in the regular season, let alone a playoff game against the defending champions.
• Shoutout to the fans at the Frost Bank Center tonight, you all were so loud. Loved the atmosphere.
• San Antonio shot 31 percent from three-point range compared to 44 percent for OKC.