NBA Conference Finals Show Contrasting Trends Entering Game 5

The 2026 NBA conference finals continue with one series tied and the other concluded. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs enter Game 5 on Tuesday tied 2-2. The New York Knicks completed a four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.

Wembanyama leads all playoff performers in ESPN's net points metric. He averages 23.1 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.8 blocks while shooting 37 percent from three-point range. The Spurs hold a plus-17.3 net rating with him on the court and a minus-0.3 rating without him.

Alex Caruso has posted the highest plus-minus among Thunder players through the first three games of the series. He averaged 21 points while shooting 61 percent from three-point range in those contests. Caruso ranks among the league's top defenders by estimated plus-minus and xRAPM.

Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby rank second, third and fourth in playoff net points behind Wembanyama. The Knicks starters have contributed to the team's postseason success alongside bench production.