The San Antonio Spurs rode into Oklahoma City on Monday and stole Game 1, winning in double overtime, 122-115. Victor Wembanyama led the way with 41 points and 24 rebounds while playing a career-high 49 minutes, and the Spurs survived an onslaught by Alex Caruso.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander only made seven shots and was largely a non-factor, and Jalen Williams and Caruso led the way for OKC. Only those three Thunder players finished with double-digit scoring numbers.

The Spurs, meanwhile, were led by Wembanyama, although they enjoyed six players scoring ten or more points. Despite the game going the distance, only nine players stepped on the court for the Spurs, as compared to 12 for the Thunder.

Mitch Johnson barely went to his bench all night, but when he did, he was well aware that they could get the job done.

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Keldon Johnson has been with the Spurs for seven seasons. Carter Bryant was just drafted last summer. Both are playing in their first-ever postseason.

In Game 1, only Johnson, Bryant, Harrison Barnes, and Luke Kornet came off the bench for the Spurs. Only Johnson and Bryant finished with a positive plus/minus.

Johnson drained three of his six 3-pointers, keeping the offense flowing while the starters caught a breather, and Bryant made only a single shot but was instrumental in slowing down Gilegous-Alexander. The two-time MVP was ice-cold from the field, and when Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper got a break, Bryant continued to make life hard for him.

"It felt like everybody kept scoring, but the bench was great for us," said the Spurs' head coach. "We needed every second from everybody that played."

With both Barnes and Kornet having disappointing showings, the Spurs might tighten up rotations in this series. Both Bryant and Johnson have played small-ball center this season, so expect the Spurs to simply give minutes to the players who have stepped up.

"It just felt like it was a war of wills," added Mitch Johnson. "And there was a level of mental toughness that was exuded by both teams. And almost sometimes, like in football, they say it's just at some point, the time runs out."

When time did run out, the Spurs were up by seven.