Spurs Overcome Timberwolves for Series Win
In Minneapolis, Stephon Castle shone brightly with 32 points and 11 rebounds, showcasing another impressive outing from the San Antonio backcourt. The Spurs took down the Minnesota Timberwolves 139-109 on Friday night, marking their first series victory after six games.
De’Aaron Fox also contributed with 21 points and nine assists, while rookie Dylan Harper came off the bench to add 15 points. With this win, the Spurs are set to face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday evening. The Thunder had already secured wins in their first two playoff series.
Victor Wembanyama made a notable recovery from a disappointing Game 4, recording 27 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks during Game 5. In Game 6, however, he was well-defended, finishing with 19 points in 27 minutes. Nonetheless, his presence remained a constant threat for opponents in the paint and he often participated in transitions, which, let’s be honest, happened frequently.
The Spurs’ guards demonstrated size, intelligence, and shooting proficiency that posed problems for the Timberwolves. It’s clear that they struggled with the formidable 7-foot-4 Wembanyama.
Castle hit his first five 3-pointers, finishing an impressive 11-of-16 from the field. Fox was equally effective, sinking all three of his attempts from beyond the arc, while Julien Champagnie chipped in with 18 points. The Spurs dominated the series, outscoring the Timberwolves by 97 points and never falling behind by double digits.
On the Timberwolves’ side, Anthony Edwards scored 24 points but struggled, shooting 9-of-26. This time, reserves Terrence Shannon (21 points) and Naz Reid (18 points) tried to spark a comeback, yet they couldn’t quite keep up with the relentless Spurs defense. Julius Randle managed only three points on 1-of-8 shooting.
This kind of performance might feel all too familiar for Wolves fans, especially considering the playoff runs they’ve had recently. Last year, Minnesota suffered a 30-point loss to Oklahoma City in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, trailing by 33 points at halftime. The previous year wasn’t much better, with them trailing by 29 points at halftime against Dallas in the same round.
