The Spurs looked like they might be in trouble after losing two straight games to the reigning champions, but with a win Sunday night, officially evened their Western Conference Finals 2-2 with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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There may have been an element of luck or the power of faith involved in that win, as a group whom NBC commentators and analysts first referred to as the “Spurs nuns” were among the fans in attendance for Game 4.
San Antonio big man Luke Kornet caught attention pregame as he went over to meet and hug the nuns, with several blessing him and possibly praying for him and the team, before he made the sign of the cross.
That may have helped the Spurs’ reserve center achieve a highlight dunk, score six points, grab seven rebounds, and swat two of OKC’s shots in the 103-82 victory.
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SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – MAY 24: Luke Kornet #7 and De’aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrate a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center on May 24, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)Following the win, Kornet was asked about the Spurs nuns, who are from the San Antonio chapter of the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco.
Kornet, known as a devout Catholic and as at least one nun’s favorite player, seemingly made a big request of them regarding travel plans.
“Gotta fly ’em to OKC. Find a way to get ’em on a plane,” the 7-foot-1 center said postgame.
It’s unclear how many Spurs received that sort of pregame blessing from them, beyond Kornet. However, San Antonio certainly had a very different energy and game plan as they pestered the Thunder on defense, scoring 27 points off OKC turnovers.
Unsurprisingly, the Spurs had a 52-47 rebounding edge, blocked 10 of the Thunder players’ shots, and outscored them 50-36 in the paint. It was an all-around better game for San Antonio after getting dominated at home by OKC in Game 3.
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Some players consider former Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich a factor in the big win, as he visited the team in the locker room after Game 3. Others will credit the Salesian Sisters for their support and maybe for some divine intervention.
Most teams have featured celebrities at their games, with the New York Knicks boasting the most, including Tracy Morgan, Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, and Timothée Chalamet.
And the Knicks have been on an epic run, with 10-straight wins and a chance at closing out their Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight. No nuns were visible in their crowds, but the power of fan support can be significant.
Many Knicks fans traveled to Philadelphia for the first-round NBA Playoff games against the 76ers and to Cleveland for the second-round games against the Cavaliers.
The Spurs might need some extra fan support in Oklahoma City, even though they battled the Thunder into double OT in Game 1 and still won. At the very least, it would keep the nuns in the spotlight as their good luck charm, as they have received credit in the past for the Spurs’ draft success.
Should the Salesian Sisters have work to do elsewhere on Wednesday for Game 5, the good news is that this series will return to San Antonio with one team facing elimination on Friday night.
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