Spurs fans were already treating Saturday like a night that could change everything, sharing pride through decorated homes, team T-shirts and hats as Game 7 approached against the Oklahoma City Thunder. One newsroom ritual at the Frost Bank Center of local conversation had its own small stake in the moment, too: Sarah Acosta and Sarah Spivey lit Spurs-themed candles during GMSA and kept them burning for the team.
Acosta said the newsroom had not forgotten the routine, adding, “We did not forget today, and they’re going to stay lit in our newsroom,” after seeing the candles tied to previous Spurs wins. The timing mattered because tipoff for Game 7 was set for 7 p.m. Saturday at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, and the Spurs needed a road win to keep their season alive.
The buildup was sharpened by what happened Thursday, when the Spurs beat the Thunder 118-91 to force the deciding game and level the series at 3-3. That result sent fans looking for a way to show belief, and KSAT Connect users answered with home displays, team gear and a lot of black and silver.
There was more on the line than a single win. If the Spurs advanced, the victory would send them to the 2026 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, and some local Academy Sports + Outdoors stores were ready to distribute Western Conference championship gear if that happened. For now, the only confirmed next step was the game itself, and the pressure sat squarely on a Spurs team that had to win in Oklahoma City to move on.
