Thunder even Western Conference Finals with Game 2 victory over Spurs

In the unfolding drama of the Western Conference Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder answered adversity with resolve, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 30-point performance restored equilibrium to a series that had tilted toward San Antonio. The win, however, arrived shadowed by injury — a reminder that in playoff basketball, as in life, triumph and vulnerability rarely travel alone. With the series now level and the stage shifting to San Antonio, both franchises must reckon not only with their opponent, but with the fragility of the bodies their ambitions depend upon.