When Gregg Popovich walked into the San Antonio Spurs locker room after a game and told them what he thought, it was the first time all season. As point guard De'Aaron Fox revealed after the 103-82 win in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, the head coach who no longer sits on the bench but remains the pillar of the franchise „let his feelings out" after the Game 3 loss.

„We lost Game 3. Pop's been close to the team all season, but that was the first time he walked into the locker room and said this was unacceptable, that this isn't how we play basketball here. He had a few chosen words for us," Fox told NBC after the game. „It was the first time this season he came in right after the game and told us how he felt."

The Game 3 loss (123-108) to Oklahoma City Thunder was heavy because it returned the home-court advantage to them. Helped by a historic bench performance - Jaylen McCain with 24 points, Jaylin Williams with 18 and Alex Caruso with 15 - the Thunder put up the 76 bench points that are rare in the playoffs.

But in Game 4, the Spurs responded the way Popovich demanded. Victor Wembanyama exploded for 33 points, while the whole of Oklahoma was suffocated at 33% shooting from the floor. The quiet outing of two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with only 19 points (6 of 15), made the difference.

„Everyone felt it. Mitch [Johnson] was in there, [Brian] Wright was in there, all the players, all the staff. You know how it is after a game. That was the first time I'd seen that," Fox added. „We closed the doors. We don't let anyone know what's going on inside - but that was the first time he opened those doors."

The series is now tied 2-2, and Game 5 sends home-court advantage back to Oklahoma. Popovich - 76 years old, no official role with the club, but with automatic weight when he opens those doors - clearly doesn't want another season without an NBA Finals appearance. The Spurs haven't been in the Finals for more than fifteen years.