Wembanyama gives the Spurs another
gem in a 115-108 win over the T-wolves to take a 2-1 series lead
[May 09, 2026]
By DAVE CAMPBELL
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama delivered another masterpiece
with 39 points, 15 rebounds and more game-wrecking defense for the
San Antonio Spurs, who took a 2-1 lead in the second-round NBA
playoff series with a 115-108 victory over the Minnesota
Timberwolves on Friday night.
Wembanyama went 13 of 18 from the floor and 10 of 12 from the line,
adding five blocks and a full night of paint deterrence as the Spurs
won their second straight game after dropping the opener at home.
“It was like holding the ship together. We had a lead. We didn’t
need to rush. We needed to be consistent,” Wembanyama said.
De'Aaron Fox scored 17 points, and Stephon Castle had 13 points and
12 assists with a team-high plus-17 rating.
Anthony Edwards had 32 points and 14 rebounds and Naz Reid added 18
points and nine rebounds for the Wolves, whose defense kept them
alive after a woeful start but allowed the Spurs to shoot 6 for 10
from 3-point range in the pivotal third quarter.
Minnesota will host Game 4 on Sunday night. The series shifts back
to San Antonio for Game 5 on Tuesday.
Jaden McDaniels drew Wembanyama's fifth foul with 6:18 left and
brought the Wolves within 99-98 on pair of free throws, but the
Spurs never trailed in the second half despite never leading by
double digits. Wembanyama sat for about a minute before coach Mitch
Johnson sent him back in.
“We were going to not leave any bullets in the chamber in terms of
keeping him on the bench," Johnson said. "We were going to play him,
and then if he fouled out, we deal with that.”
Wembanyama didn't flinch despite the foul risk, finishing with 16
points in the fourth quarter. His 3-pointer that answered Reid's
pushed San Antonio's lead to six with 3:06 to go. Reid tried another
one near the end of the shot clock on the next possession that hit
the rim and Wembanyama snagged for another rebound.
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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) waits for play to
resume during the first half of Game 3 of a NBA basketball
second-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in
Minneapolis, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Edwards, who showed Minnesota yet again his swift healing ability by
returning from a deep bone bruise in his hyperextended left knee
after just one week to make the start of the series, had 22 points
in the first half to help them snap back from an early 18-3 deficit.
“He needed that. We needed that,” coach Chris Finch said. “He’s
battling back to find a game like this, and it couldn’t have come at
a better time. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the result that went
along with it.”
The Wolves missed their first 12 shots and didn't get a basket to go
down until Rudy Gobert's putback with 6:52 had elapsed, but unlike
in the 133-95 drubbing they took in Game 2 on Wednesday they had the
defensive intelligence and tenacity at the ready to make up for the
long shooting lulls.
Edwards hit a buzzer-beating 31-footer at the end of the first
quarter, and McDaniels swished a 3-pointer from the wing to end the
first half with a 51-all tie.
McDaniels and Julius Randle were the most affected by Wembanyama's
presence, unable to get their short-range and rim-attacking game
going. They shot a combined 8 for 34 from the floor.
“I went in the locker room and told the guys we had a bunch of great
looks,” Edwards said. “If we make our shots, we win this game.”
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