After a dominant victory in Sport 5, the San Antonio Spurs will head to Minnesota with an opportunity to clinch a spot within the Western Convention Finals. In case you’re on the lookout for much more drama than an elimination sport, it is going to be the primary time Victor Wembanyama has performed within the Goal Heart since he was ejected from Sport 4 of the sequence.
The Spurs discovered success in Minneapolis the final time that they had a must-win sport coming off a blowout at house. San Antonio received Sport Three in Minnesota 115-108, due to some clutch scoring by Wembanyama down the stretch. This sport will seemingly elicit a extra determined effort from the Wolves, who’re recognized for preventing again when their backs are towards the wall. San Antonio will have to be prepared for a feisty and bodily Wolves squad taking part in in entrance of a raucous crowd.
Commercial
The Silver and Black will trot into Minnesota with a clear damage report. They’ll want all arms on deck to shut this sequence out on the highway. With the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder getting loads of relaxation, and the unpredictability of a Sport Seven, San Antonio could have a little bit of desperation themselves to win this sequence in six.
Could fifteenth, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT
Watch: Amazon Prime Video | Hear: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: No accidents
Timberwolves Accidents: Donte DiVincenzo – Out (achilles)
What to look at for:
Attending to the basket
The Spurs outscored the Wolves within the paint 68-36 in Sport 5. They relentlessly attacked the paint, particularly in transition, to place Minnesota away within the second half. Attending to the rim and scoring via contact needs to be a focus for his or her offense in Sport Six, particularly if the Wolves are enthusiastic about going smaller with Rudy Gobert sitting on the bench. Gobert has been nice defensively on this sequence, however has struggled offensively in the previous few video games, which has led to the Wolves going to Naz Reid on the middle spot to unfold the Spurs out a bit and add some offensive versatility to their lineup. With out Gobert’s rim safety, San Antonio has been in a position to capitalize on the rim. They’ll want extra of that to shut out this sequence on the highway.
Commercial
Can a second Timberwolf step up?
Anthony Edwards has been unimaginable on this sequence. He’s averaging 23.6 factors whereas taking pictures 50.6% from the sphere and 40% from three. He’s been so good that the Spurs have elected to double-team him each time he catches the ball or brings it up the ground. San Antonio has begged one other Timberwolf to beat them, and thus far, none of them have risen to the problem. Julius Randle has struggled, Ayo Dosumnu hasn’t hit the heights of his efficiency within the first spherical, and Jaden McDaniels has struggled to attain over Wembanyama on the rim. If simply certainly one of these gamers turns it on in Sport Six, the Spurs’ technique of doubling Edwards may collapse, and we may even see a brand new defensive scheme from Mitch Johnson and Sean Sweeney.
Function gamers hitting threes
San Antonio has had hot-and-cold taking pictures performances from its function gamers within the playoffs. Julian Champagnie began the playoffs taking pictures the lights out, however has come again to earth a bit in current video games. Devin Vassell has struggled to seek out his stroke from deep all postseason, taking pictures simply 31% from three. The Spurs want these two to hit open pictures on Friday. The Silver and Black’s guards have executed an amazing job of penetrating and drawing a number of defenders. Their shooters have to make the protection pay for collapsing onto drivers.
Commercial
Whereas not a job participant, De’Aaron Fox’s taking pictures stroke shall be vital right here, too. Elimination video games on the highway are precisely the place veterans have to step up and take the reins. Fox is barely taking pictures 44% from the sphere and 30.6% from three. Getting a few of these mid-range jumpers and pull-up threes to go down could possibly be simply what the Spurs have to advance to the Western Convention Finals.