Victor Wembanyama posted 19 points and 15 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs dismantled the Minnesota Timberwolves, 133-95, on Thursday to level their Western Conference semifinal series at 1-1. The margin was the largest postseason defeat in Timberwolves franchise history—surpassing a 30-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on April 29, 2003. It was also the highest-scoring playoff game for the Spurs since a series-clinching 145-105 win over Denver on May 4, 1983.
Games 3 and 4 are on Saturday and Monday in Minneapolis.
Wembanyama Set the Tone for Spurs
After combining with De’Aaron Fox to shoot just 10-for-31 in Game 1, both players came out with different intentions on Thursday. Wembanyama opened the scoring by flying through the lane and throwing down a right-handed dunk after the Spurs missed their first three attempts. He and Fox combined to score the Spurs’ first 11 points and raced to a 29-point lead in the first half.
The whole game felt like that. Fox finished with 16 points and Stephon Castle led all scorers with 21. San Antonio shot 50% from the field and 41% from three. The Spurs moved the ball, attacked the rim, and turned what could have been a competitive series game into a statement.
Carter Bryant soared for a two-handed slam for his first points of the series, Wembanyama followed with a three-pointer to push the lead to 43-26 midway through the second quarter, and back-to-back slams from Dylan Harper and Castle capped an 11-0 run that pushed the advantage to 59-34. By halftime, Minnesota had been held to 35 points on 29.8% shooting and was 2-for-15 from three.
The result was no longer in doubt by the start of the fourth quarter. Both teams sent their starters to the bench with 10 minutes remaining, the Spurs leading 104-66.
Minnesota Had No Answers
Anthony Edwards came off the bench again as the Timberwolves continued to manage his minutes in just his second game back from a hyperextended left knee. Edwards, Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels, and Terrence Shannon Jr. each scored 12 points—numbers that tell you everything about how evenly the damage was spread and how little any of it mattered against what San Antonio brought.
Minnesota’s previous largest postseason loss was that 2003 Lakers game. Now they have a new worst memory, and it came in a Western Conference semifinal at home.
What This Series Has Become
San Antonio has not lost consecutive games since falling at Minnesota and Oklahoma City back in mid-January. One bad game in Game 1—combined to shoot 10-for-31, Wembanyama finishing at 5-for-17—was apparently all the motivation the Spurs needed to produce their most complete performance of the postseason.
The series is tied. The next two games are in Minneapolis, where the Timberwolves will have their crowd and—presumably—more of Edwards as his knee continues to heal. Game 1 showed Minnesota can win this series. Game 2 showed San Antonio can make it very difficult.
One game each. Everything ahead.
