Spurs-Timberwolves: Victor Wembanyama returns with a vengeance to lead San Antonio to 3-2 lead

Victor Wembnayma was uncommonly cool when he was ejected from Game 4 of Timberwolves-Spurs.

He saved his frustrations for Game 5. Back in the starting lineup two days after his ejection, the Spurs center torched the Timberwolves in the game’s opening minutes Tuesday night and set the tone for a 126-97 San Antonio win.

The Spurs are now one win away from a date in the Western Conference finals against the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Minnesota will have a chance to stave off elimination at home in Game 6 Friday night.

Wembanyama was unstoppable early, scoring 16 of San Antonio’s first 24 points in six minutes. He finished the first quarter with 18 points and 6 rebounds. When the final horn sounded, Wembanyama had tallied 27 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks.

He was a force from inside and out and on both sides of the court as the Minnesota offense struggled to counter his length and defensive presence.

The Timberwolves, who are playoff-tested and have mounted more than their share of postseason rallies, didn’t stay down when the Spurs took an 18-point second-quarter lead.

They cut the deficit to 12 at halftime and took control early in the third quarter to tie the game at 61-61. But the Spurs punched back with nine straight points and finished the third quarter on a 19-6 run with a 98-71 advantage.

There was no Minnesota rally from there.

The Timberwolves are used to leveraging the length of their front line to control the post against overmatched opponents. But there’s no such advantage against a Spurs team that counters with length and athleticism up and down the lineup.

The Timberwolves went multiple sustained stretches without scoring. And there was simply too much Wembanyama, too much Stephon Castle, too much Keldon Johnson and too much Dylan Harper for Minnesota to compete.

Castle, the 6-6 second-year guard, posted an efficient 17 points alongside 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. He shot 8 of 11 from the field and leveraged his strength and size when he attacked the basket.

Johnson lived up to his Sixth Man of the Year billing with 21 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals off the bench. Like Castle, he shot 8 of 11 from the field.

And Harper, the 6-5 rookie guard, filled the stat sheet with 12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. He was a game-time decision with knee soreness, but showed no signs of injury in his 25 minutes.

As a team, the Spurs shot 53% from the field while limiting the Timberwolves to 39% while controlling the paint on both ends. They secured a 50-42 advantage on the boards and an 8-4 edge in blocked shots.

This story will be updated.

Live coverage is over27 updates

Tue, May 12, 2026 at 5:48 PM PDT

Jason Owens

Tue, May 12, 2026 at 7:48 PM PDT

Ryan Young

The Spurs will attempt to close out the series on Friday night at the Target Center in Minneapolis. If they can pull it off, they’ll reach the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2017.

Game 6: Spurs at Timberwolves
When: Friday, May 15 | 9:30 p.m. ET
Where: Target Center | Minneapolis
TV: Prime Video
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 7:46 PM PDT

Ryan Young

Anthony Edwards
20 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists

Julius Randle
17 points, 10 rebounds

Jaden McDaniels
17 points, 6 rebounds

Ayo Dosunmu
16 points, 9 rebounds, 7-14 FG

Team Stats
39% FG, 27% 3FG, 42 rebounds, 13 turnovers
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 7:44 PM PDT

Ryan Young

Victor Wembanyama
27 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 9-16 FG

Keldon Johnson
21 points, 2 rebounds, 8-11 FG

De’Aaron Fox
18 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds

Stephon Castle
17 points, 6 assists, 8-11 FG

Team Stats
53% FG, 34% 3FG, 50 rebounds, 15 turnovers
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 7:42 PM PDT

Ryan Young

Victor Wembanyama finished the night with a double-double in his first game back after his ejection in Game 3.

He had 27 points and 17 rebounds in the win for San Antonio.
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 7:42 PM PDT

Ryan Young

The Spurs surged ahead down the stretch to secure their 29-point win, and they’re now officially up 3-2 in the series.
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 7:27 PM PDT

Ryan Young

Well, nevermind. The Spurs are back up by 20 now, and have held Minnesota without a field goal for nearly two minutes.

With just more than six minutes left on the clock, we’re just about done here.
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 7:14 PM PDT

Ryan Young

Well, that was eight quick points from the Timberwolves there, capped by a Naz Reid stepback 3.

The Spurs called a timeout, but their lead is down to just 12 now with 9:34 left. If Minnesota is going to make a move, it has to be now.
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 7:07 PM PDT

Jason Owens

The Timberwolves turned a 58-47 halftime deficit into a 61-61 game midway through the third quarter.

But the Spurs are back on top with an even bigger advantage and take a 91-73 lead into the fourth. San Antonio scored nine straight and finished the third on a 19-6 run. Minnesota’s in trouble with 12 minutes remaining.
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 6:50 PM PDT

Jason Owens

And just like that, the Spurs have answered with a 9-0 run and are back in control. San Antonio leads, 72-63 and has quelled the Minnesota rally. For now, at least.
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 6:45 PM PDT

Jason Owens

Minnesota’s taken control of the third quarter and turned a 59-47 halftime deficit into a 61-61 tie midway through the stanza. This one’s anyone’s game.
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 6:37 PM PDT

Jason Owens

The third quarter’s underway, and Ayo Dosunmu started it with a 3 for Minnesota. Anthony Edwards followed up with a pair of free throws and a contested jumper, and San Antonio’s lead has been reduced to 59-54.
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 6:29 PM PDT

Jason Owens

Spurs:
Victor Wembanyama: 21 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks
De’Aaron Fox: 12 points, 3 assists
Keldon Johnson: 8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal off bench

Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards: 8 points, 1 assist, 2 of 5 from field
Ayo Dosunmu: 9 points, 7 rebounds, 4 of 6 from field
Julius Randle: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 of 7 from field, 0 of 2 from 3
Rudy Gobert: 2 points, 3 rebounds, 0 blocks

Team stats
Spurs: 48% from field, 32% from 3, 26 rebounds, 7 turnovers
Timberwolves: 41% from field, 31% from 3, 21 rebounds, 6 turnovers
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 6:21 PM PDT

Jason Owens

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are in control and in possession of a 59-47 halftime lead.

It would have been bigger, but San Antonio went cold down the stretch, missing eight of its final field goal attempts of the quarter. But the Spurs still outscored the Timberwolves, 25-17 in the stanza and are controlling both sides of the court.

Wembanyama has 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 6:16 PM PDT

Jason Owens

Officials are calling this one tight. Naz Reid just got a technical foul for a slight shove in Victor Wembanyama’s back after a boxout.

Reid was the recipient of the Wembanyama elbow in Game 4 that resulted in a flagrant 2 ejection for the Spurs center. Officials aren’t seeking to maintain control and aren’t letting much of anything go in Game 5.
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 6:01 PM PDT

Jason Owens

Not everything’s coming up Spurs. Stephon Castle just picked up his third foul on offense and is headed to the bench halfway through the second quarter.
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 5:56 PM PDT

Jason Owens

San Antonio remains in control early in the second quarter. The Spurs opened the stanza with a 9-0 run and have a 45-33 lead with 9:02 remaining before halftime.
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 5:46 PM PDT

Jason Owens

Victor Wembanyama’s on a heater in his first game back from his Game 4 ejection. Wembanyama tallied 18 points and six rebounds in eight first quarter minutes, and the Spurs leave the first quarter with a 34-30 lead.

He’s doing it from inside and out with two of his six early field goals coming from deep. Anthony Edwards (8 points) is helping the Timberwolves keep things close.
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 5:28 PM PDT

Jason Owens

In his return from his Game 2 ejection, Victor Wembanyama’s scorching out of the gates with 9 of San Antonio’s first 17 points. The Spurs have a 17-9 lead at the first timeout, and the San Antonio crowd is rocking.
Tue, May 12, 2026 at 5:22 PM PDT

Jason Owens

Rudy Gobert just picked up an early flagrant foul, via the Zaza Pachulia rule.

He closed out with a foot under Victor Wembanyama after a Wembanyama jumpshot. Wembanyama landed on Gobert’s foot and fell to the court. He appeared to avoid injury, but officials didn’t take much time to confirm a flagrant 1 for Gobert.

The San Antonio crowd took much delight in this decision, a game after Wembanyama was ejected for a flagrant 2 in Minnesota.