In Game 5 of the NBA playoff second round, the San Antonio Spurs dominated the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-97 at home, taking a 3-2 series lead. After a close first quarter where the Spurs led by four, they extended their advantage to 18 points by halftime. The Timberwolves briefly erased the deficit in the third quarter, but the Spurs pulled away again, leading by 18 entering the fourth. San Antonio then blew the game open with a 20-plus point cushion in the final period.
Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 27 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. Stephon Castle added 17 points and 6 assists, while De’Aaron Fox chipped in 18 points and 5 assists. Keldon Johnson scored 21 points, and Jeremy Harper and Devin Vassell each contributed 12 points.
For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards scored 20 points, Jaden McDaniels had 17 points and 6 rebounds, and Ayo Dosunmu recorded 16 points and 9 rebounds. Julius Randle posted 17 points and 10 rebounds on 6-of-17 shooting, and Naz Reid added 12 points and 5 rebounds.
Wembanyama was the star of the game, exploding for 18 points in the first quarter—a playoff career high for a single quarter—and finishing the half with 21 points and 11 rebounds. He finished the night with 27 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks.
The game saw some notable moments. Wembanyama was not suspended after an elbow incident with Naz Reid in a previous game, and he started this contest. Former NBA player CJ Miles served as a photographer for the game. In the first quarter, Wembanyama drew a flagrant foul on Rudy Gobert after Gobert failed to give landing space on a three-point attempt, resulting in three free throws and possession for the Spurs.
The Spurs came out firing in the opening minutes, with Wembanyama scoring 9 points in the first three minutes to build a 17-9 lead, forcing a Timberwolves timeout. After a brief Timberwolves run, the Spurs held a 34-30 lead after the first quarter. In the second, the Spurs’ lead ballooned to 15 points, with Keldon Johnson grabbing offensive rebounds and converting. The Timberwolves struggled to contain Wembanyama, and the Spurs took a 59-47 lead into halftime.
The Timberwolves opened the third quarter with a 10-2 run, cutting the deficit to four points before the Spurs responded. San Antonio used a 7-0 run, including key plays from Champagnie, Castle, and Johnson, to push the lead back to 18 by the end of the quarter, 91-73. In the fourth, the Timberwolves again trimmed the lead to 12, but Wembanyama’s block, a three-pointer from Vassell, and a steal and dunk by Castle sparked a Spurs rally. The lead swelled to 20 points, and the Timberwolves pulled their starters with just over three minutes remaining.
Starting lineups:
Spurs: Karl (likely a typo, probably Sochan), Fox, Vassell, Champagnie, Wembanyama.
Timberwolves: Edwards, Dosunmu, Randle, McDaniels, Gobert.
