The Spurs’ Game Six win over the Thunder marks the third blowout of the series, a contrast to the expectation set by the two teams in Game One. It begs the question: Is the NBA’s playoff format broken? — Yankee Scores Reports.
The Western Conference finals between the Spurs and Thunder have not lived up to the high expectations set in the first game of the series. Game 1 gave us a double-overtime, the first since 2021 in the NBA playoffs, and fans clamored for the series to go the full seven games.
Although the fans got what they wanted, as San Antonio tied the series 3-3 with an impressive Game 6 win on Thursday night, the fans saw yet another blowout.
The Spurs won Game 6 by 27 points, four days after winning Game 4 by 21. San Antonio had a 20-0 run in the third quarter, the Thunder going 7 minutes without a single point. They missed 14 shots in a row, with the game being essentially over before the buzzer sounded to end the quarter.
Fans have now become used to the lopsided games this postseason. San Antonio’s win was the 13th game of the postseason where the margin of victory was at least 25 points. That tied for the third most point won by in any post season.
The 2016 postseason holds the record for most playoff blowouts of at least 25 points with 20. The following year, holds the second highest postseason blowouts with 14. The Warriors and Cavaliers accounted for nearly half of those blowouts (16 out of 34), as they dominated the NBA while meeting in four straight Finals.
Playoffs blowout on the rise
Blowout victories are becoming a regular feature of recent NBA postseasons. In five of the last six years, at least 11 playoff games have been decided by margins of 25 points or more. The lone exception was 2023, which still produced seven such results. Historically, only the Warriors–Cavaliers Finals runs and the 2009 postseason reached similar levels of lopsided outcomes.
This year, the Knicks and Spurs have been the biggest contributors. New York has recorded five wins by 25 points or more, tying the all‑time playoff record, while San Antonio has four. Last season, the Thunder were responsible for five of the 13 blowouts.
While dominant teams peaking at the right time explain part of the trend, the distribution has widened. In 2021, 2022, and 2024, no single team logged more than three 25‑point wins, yet the overall totals still exceeded historical averages.
A lot of Analysts have pointed to player fatigue as one possible factor behind the rise in lopsided playoff games. While the 82‑game schedule has not changed, players have become more vocal about its demands, and teams are increasingly cautious with injuries given the financial stakes.
The more likely explanation, however, lies in the surge of three‑point shooting. Over the past decade, average playoff attempts have climbed from 25.8 per game to 34.2, peaking at 36.3 in 2020. Cold shooting nights have swung series: Oklahoma City went just 10‑for‑40 from deep in Game Six, while Cleveland managed 11‑for‑40 in a 37‑point loss to New York.
As the Knicks and Thunder prepare for Game Seven, both will be hoping to avoid another collapse from beyond the arc.
