Back
Sports

San Antonio Spurs Defeat Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2 in Western Conference Semifinals

Generated on: Last updated: 14 sources
View source

Spurs Advance to Western Conference Finals After 139-109 Rout of Timberwolves

The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 139-109 in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Friday, winning the series four games to two. The Spurs will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.

Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Spurs and Thunder is scheduled for Monday.

Series Summary

The series began with the Minnesota Timberwolves winning Game 1 on the road, 104-102, in San Antonio. The Spurs responded by winning Game 2 decisively, 133-95, to even the series. The teams then split Games 3 and 4. The Spurs won Game 5 before closing out the series with a 30-point victory in Game 6.

Game 1: Timberwolves 104, Spurs 102

The Timberwolves took a 1-0 series lead with a narrow victory in San Antonio on Monday.

Player Performances

  • Julius Randle led Minnesota with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
  • Anthony Edwards returned from a left knee injury, scoring 18 points in 25 minutes off the bench.
  • Terrence Shannon Jr. started in place of Edwards and scored 16 points.
  • Victor Wembanyama recorded 11 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 blocks, setting an NBA postseason single-game record for blocks.
  • Wembanyama shot 5-of-17 from the field and missed all eight three-point attempts.

Key Events

  • Minnesota trailed by three points early in the fourth quarter before a 14-2 run gave them a lead.
  • The Timberwolves made 12 of 21 free throws; the Spurs made 16 of 18.
  • With 34.4 seconds remaining, a Minnesota inbounds pass was stolen, resulting in a Spurs layup.
  • Spurs guard Julian Champagnie missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer that could have won the game.

Game 2: Spurs 133, Timberwolves 95

The Spurs tied the series at 1-1 with a dominant performance in San Antonio on Wednesday.

Key Factors

  • All five Spurs starters scored in double figures before the fourth quarter.
  • Stephon Castle led all scorers with 21 points.
  • Victor Wembanyama recorded 19 points and 15 rebounds.
  • De'Aaron Fox contributed 16 points.
  • Minnesota committed 22 turnovers and shot 39.8% from the field.
  • The Spurs outrebounded the Timberwolves 55-43.
  • Anthony Edwards played 24 minutes off the bench, scoring 12 points with four turnovers.
  • Spurs coach Mitch Johnson described the team's start as having "appropriate urgency."
  • Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said after the game, "We just got punked."

Game 3: Spurs 115, Timberwolves 108

The Spurs took a 2-1 series lead in Minneapolis on Friday.

Player Performances

  • Victor Wembanyama recorded 39 points (13-of-18 FG), 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks.
  • Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists in 41 minutes, making his first start since returning from a knee injury.
  • Stephon Castle added 13 points and 12 assists for the Spurs.

Notable Events

  • The game featured a combined 48 fouls.
  • An exchange of shoves occurred between Castle and Jaden McDaniels in the third quarter.
  • Timberwolves coach Chris Finch criticized crew chief Tony Brothers' conduct after the game.

Game 6: Spurs 139, Timberwolves 109

The Spurs closed out the series on Friday, setting a franchise postseason record with 18 three-pointers.

Player Performances

  • Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 32 points (11-of-16 FG, 5-of-7 3PT), 11 rebounds, and 6 assists.
  • De'Aaron Fox added 21 points and nine assists.
  • Victor Wembanyama had 19 points, 17 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks.
  • Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 24 points on 9-of-26 shooting.
  • Julius Randle scored three points on 1-of-8 shooting.
  • Rudy Gobert and Randle combined for three points on 1-of-12 shooting.

Castle's Milestone

At 21 years old, Castle became the youngest player in NBA playoff history to record 30 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 three-pointers in a single game.

Series Context

  • The Timberwolves were eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals.
  • The Spurs advanced by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers five games to one in the first round.
  • The Thunder swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the other Western Conference semifinal.
  • The Spurs had a 4-1 record against the Thunder during the regular season.
  • Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Spurs and Thunder is scheduled for Monday.