The Spurs’ beatdown of the Timberwolves last night, 133-95, was so severe it casts doubt whether Minnesota can make the best of seven games second round playoff series competitive.
Answers, and maybe close to a final verdict, will come Friday night in Minneapolis. The series is tied 1-1 after two games in San Antonio. The Spurs, who were coming off a five day layoff, looked out of sync on Monday night and played poorly in the close series opener, 104-102. The Wolves were aggressive and sharp in upsetting the series favorite Spurs.
But last night, oh my!
The game was one-sided by halftime when Minnesota trailed 59-35. That, however, wouldn’t be San Antonio’s largest lead as the game became a second half debacle for the Wolves. The Spurs built their lead to a game high of 47 points, and early in the fourth quarter Spurs coach Mitch Johnson and Minnesota’s Chris Finch were already using deep reserves.
The Wolves looked listless and in a mental funk. On offense they didn’t have proper spacing and ball movement. The Spurs made things miserable with defensive intensity including double teaming away from the basket.
On defense the Wolves’ ineptness included not transitioning quick enough from offense and allowing easy scores. The Wolves were awful on defense near the basket—outscored in the paint, 58-36.
Minnesota shot 39.8 percent from the field and converted 30 percent of three pointers. Things were bad even at the free-throw line, with the Wolves shooting 51.6 percent. The Spurs numbers: 50 percent, 41 percent and 81.8 percent.
The Wolves had 22 turnovers in a game that seemed like the total should be more. “An incredibly sloppy game by Minnesota,” ESPN play-by-play man Dave Pasch said during the third quarter.
The performance was a real laugher, and it had to be disconcerting for Wolves fans to see multiple players apparently joking while watching from the bench in the fourth quarter. In contrast were the serious faces of Finch, center Ruby Gobert and team owner Alex Rodriguez.
There was no amusement found in the box score with 14 Wolves posting a statistical minus rating. None was higher than the -33 of guard Anthony Edwards who had four turnovers in 24:08 minutes on the floor. Forwards Julius Randle and Naz Reid were -26, Gobert -23.
In the fourth quarter Edwards sat on the bench with large ice bags on both knees. The scene was a sharp contrast from Monday night when Edwards wasn’t even expected to play but contributed 18 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter of the close game. Edwards suffered a bone bruise and hyperextended left knee in late April.
Knee, hamstring and toes issues have slowed the team’s superstar this season. His health is a concern for Friday night with the question of what level can he play at.
The Spurs and the Thunder may not only be the best two teams in the Western Conference but in all of basketball. The two teams could face off soon with the Thunder expected to dispatch the Lakers in a sweep or in five games of the seven game series.
The Wolves have to bounce back on Friday night. Safe to say the game won’t be so one-sided again. But it’s a tall task and meant literally.
Spurs center Victor Wembanyama is listed at 7-4 but might even be 7-7. The NBA has never seen such a freakish and gifted player at that size. He can dominate by scoring inside, pop out and make a three-pointer, lead a fast break and swat shots away all night on defense.
The Spurs lucked out in the NBA Draft Lottery in 2023 selecting him No. 1 overall. In the 2024 draft San Antonio picked No. 4 overall and added guard Stephon Castle who led the team in scoring Wednesday night with 21 points. Last year the Spurs picked No. 2 overall and chose guard Dylan Harper who played similar minutes last night to the starters and had a 10+ rating.
Harper and all the Spurs starters are in their first playoffs except for guard De’Aaron Fox. The group wasn’t ready to play in the series opener Monday night but had a gold standard make-up outing last night.
The Wolves, who on paper are the less talented team, know all about inconsistency. They consistently performed that way during the season. It’s been frustrating for all including the fans and inexplicable to all.
They have no margin for that Friday night or beyond in the playoffs.
Don’t panic. It’s one game. A win by 2 or a win by 42, they count the same. My guess is that the Wolves at best will need to win another game or two in San Antonio for them to meet most likely OKC.