Stephon Castle gives the Spurs 32
points in a 139-109 blowout to eliminate Timberwolves in Game 6
[May 16, 2026]
By DAVE CAMPBELL
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs were well on their way to
the Western Conference finals in the fourth quarter when Minnesota
Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards went down to their bench to
briefly offer his congratulations.
The young Spurs left no doubt they're already a serious NBA title
contender.
Stephon Castle had 32 points and 11 rebounds to highlight another
dominant performance from the backcourt, and Victor Wembanyama and
the Spurs romped past the Timberwolves 139-109 on Friday night to
finish in the second-round series in six games.
“I just tip my hat to them,” Edwards said. “They were just the
better team.”
De'Aaron Fox added 21 points and nine assists and rookie Dylan
Harper had 15 points off the bench for the Spurs, who set their
franchise postseason record for 3-pointers made by going 18 for 38.
They will face defending champion Oklahoma City in Game 1 on Monday
night. The Thunder swept their first two series.
“Of course we’re confident, but we need to keep the right confidence
level,” Wembanyama said. “Right now, I’m not even thinking about it.
I’m just thinking about recovering.”
Wembanyama, who bounced back from his stunning Game 4 ejection with
27 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in the Game 5
blowout, was well-guarded by the Wolves in Game 6 and had a quiet 19
points in 27 minutes. But he still served as a constant defensive
deterrent in the paint, and he dutifully joined the Spurs in
transition whenever they had the opportunity to run — which was
often.
The size, smarts and shooting touch of the Spurs guards were too
much for the Wolves, who predictably had their hands full with the
7-foot-4 Wembanyama.
Castle made his first five 3-pointers and finished 11 for 16 from
the floor. Fox was 3 for 3 from deep, and Julian Champagnie made
four 3s among his 18 points for the Spurs, who outscored the Wolves
by a whopping 97 points in the series and never once trailed by
double digits. The Spurs breezed by Portland Trail in five games in
the first round.
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Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, center, shoots against
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) and forward Julian
Champagnie (30) during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball
second-round playoffs series against the San Antonio Spurs in
Minneapolis, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
“It shows that we already gained a little bit of experience from our
short playoff time," Wembanyama said. "I feel like we put ourselves
in the best conditions, as simple as that.”
Anthony Edwards had 24 points on 9-for-26 shooting for the Wolves,
who got another spark from reserves Terrence Shannon (21 points) and
Naz Reid (18 points) but were again flustered by the Spurs and their
relentless switch-heavy defense. Julius Randle had just three points
on 1-for-8 shooting.
“It just felt like we kind of ran out of bullets as this series went
on,” coach Chris Finch said.
This no-show in the elimination game might’ve felt familiar to
Wolves fans, who’ve otherwise enjoyed an unprecedented run of
success in the playoffs over the last three years.
Minnesota trailed by 33 points at halftime in a 30-point loss at
Oklahoma City in the Game 5 ouster in the Western Conference finals
last year and were down by 29 points at the break to Dallas in
losing the Western Conference finals in 2024 in a 21-point loss in
Game 5.
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