De’Aaron Fox didn’t need a huge scoring night to matter in San Antonio’s Western Conference Finals closeout, and that’s exactly why his Finals matchup against Jalen Brunson reads more interesting than a straight point-guard duel.
Fox scored 15 points with five assists and three steals in the Spurs’ 111-103 Game 7 win over Oklahoma City. Victor Wembanyama led with 22 points and seven rebounds, Julian Champagnie added 20 on six made threes, Stephon Castle had 16, Dylan Harper 12, and Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson 11 apiece. Champagnie joined Klay Thompson and Steph Curry as the only players in NBA history to make six or more threes in a Conference Finals Game 7.
The Spurs already have a model for guarding an MVP-tier point guard
San Antonio held Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 37.9% shooting and 26.1% from three across the series, a 23-point drop from his regular-season shooting line. Castle was the primary defender, with help arriving only when SGA reached a dangerous spot on the floor.
Brunson is a different problem. He won Eastern Conference Finals MVP, and the Knicks’ 11-game playoff winning streak has been built around his ability to control tempo without turning games into track meets. He doesn’t get solved by one defender for 48 minutes.
Fox gives the Spurs another wave
Fox missed the first two games of the WCF, so Game 7 was as much reintegration as closing performance. What he provides going forward is speed on both ends. He can pick Brunson up early, force the action to start late, and then make Brunson guard on the other end. Every defensive possession that costs Brunson energy is a possession the Knicks have to absorb somewhere else in the night.
San Antonio can run that pressure in waves. Castle scored 16 in Game 7 and was the primary on SGA all series. Harper added 12 off the bench. Vassell and Johnson finished with 11 each. Fox doesn’t have to be the only downhill threat for the Spurs to keep Brunson moving.
The Knicks have counters
Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby can take the tougher perimeter assignments, letting Brunson hide on defense when needed. Josh Hart can guard up a position and keep the rebounding structure intact. New York can also use Brunson off the ball if San Antonio traps him too aggressively.
The risk for the Spurs is overextending the pressure. Brunson punishes reckless help, and Karl-Anthony Towns becomes a release point if a second defender arrives before Brunson commits his dribble. The Knicks have been too sharp during this run to survive on ball pressure alone.
What Fox actually buys San Antonio
Fox lets the Spurs apply pressure without immediately compromising their defensive shape. He can chase, recover and attack. Castle can absorb possessions. Harper can change pace. Vassell defends and spaces.
The Game 7 win came from balance across that group, which is what makes Brunson’s Finals workload heavier than any single matchup decision. If Fox stays aggressive without the game opening up, Brunson has to create through speed, length and fresh defenders before New York even gets to the Wembanyama problem behind the play. Game 1 tips Wednesday in San Antonio, with the Spurs on three days of rest after Game 7 and the Knicks on eight.
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