Wembanyama returns, Spurs crush Timberwolves to take 3-2 series lead in NBA playoffs

Victor Wembanyama delivered an impressive performance with 27 points and 17 rebounds, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 126-97 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Frost Bank Center in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals. The win gave the Spurs a 3-2 lead in the series.

Wembanyama returned to action Tuesday after being ejected in the second half of a 114-109 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 4 on Sunday. He was thrown out for elbowing an opponent in the face, resulting in an automatic suspension.

“Very, very much,” Wembanyama said when asked how eager he was to return for Game 5. “I mean, I was very fresh, feeling good. But honestly, it’s hard to tell if it’s just excitement or not. Obviously, I’ll be excited and a little nervous. So excitement is not abnormal.”

The Spurs led by as many as 18 points in the second quarter before cooling off, holding just a 12-point edge at halftime. After the Timberwolves tied the game at 61-61 with 7:51 left in the third quarter, San Antonio outscored them 30-12 to take a 91-73 lead into the final period.

“We got away from what was working, and the defense collapsed,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “In the last six minutes of the third, it was mostly about ball handling. And offensively, we found what worked, but then we started breaking the sets. That’s on me. I have to get the team back on track. It’s my fault.”

The Spurs extended their lead to 20 points early in the fourth quarter. Minnesota responded with an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 93-81 with 9:34 remaining, but never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

Keldon Johnson scored 21 points off the bench for San Antonio, De’Aaron Fox added 18, Stephon Castle had 17, and Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper each contributed 12. Harper also grabbed 10 rebounds.

“We played with the right fear, discipline, execution, physicality and calm,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “And I think we had that from many guys tonight, and it was great to see. We need everybody because at different moments of the game, different players stepped up.”

Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 20 points. Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle each scored 17, Ayo Dosunmu had 16, and Naz Reid finished with 12.

Wembanyama erupted early, scoring 16 of the Spurs’ first 24 points as San Antonio built a 24-9 lead with 6:17 left in the first quarter. The Timberwolves weathered the storm, with Reid hitting a layup with 23 seconds left to cut the deficit to 34-30 after 12 minutes.

“We knew the game would be physical, so we emphasized that and tried to keep them off the offensive glass,” Castle said. “I think we started the game well, and that’s where our runs came from. But obviously, they’re a good team, they’ll make their own runs.”

The Spurs opened the second quarter with nine straight points, capped by a three-pointer from Castle, pushing the lead to 43-30.

San Antonio stretched its advantage to 58-40 on an alley-oop dunk by Wembanyama with 3:24 left in the half, but then missed its final eight shots, allowing Minnesota to cut it to 59-47 at halftime.

Wembanyama posted a double-double by halftime with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Fox contributed 12 points for San Antonio before the break.

“I think one word I’d use is ‘maturity’,” Mitch Johnson said of Wembanyama. “There was a lot going on in the last 48 hours, in the previous game, and I think the way he came back tonight and played versatile, in many situations, not just in terms of production, is extremely mature, and defensively from start to finish.”

Dosunmu led the Timberwolves’ offense in the first half with nine points, while Reid and Edwards each added eight.

Minnesota came out strong in the third quarter, tying the game at 61-61 with 7:51 left when Dosunmu scored on a layup to cap a 14-2 run.

“I didn’t see anybody in our locker room worried,” Edwards said. “Man, it’s just another basketball game. So you go out, put your shoes on and get ready to work.”

Game 6 of the series is scheduled for Friday in Minneapolis, with a potential Game 7 back in San Antonio on Sunday.