The San Antonio Spurs did what they wanted to do in Minnesota. The Spurs reclaimed home-court benefit with a win in Game Three. After shedding a winnable Game Four, 114-109, the Spurs will head again to San Antonio to defend their dwelling court docket and re-take a collection lead.
Game Five will likely be certainly one of intrigue for a number of causes. Chief amongst them is the return of Victor Wembanyama, who was ejected from Game Four after incomes a Flagrant 2 foul for elbowing Naz Reid within the neck. Wembanyama prevented d a tremendous and a suspension, which has drawn some ire from nationwide media speaking heads. Now, an already bodily collection will likely be performed below a microscope, with each groups motivated to beat up on one another, and the officers watching much more intently for extracurricular contact.
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What this recreation and collection will finally come all the way down to is the efficiency of every workforce’s star participant. Anthony Edwards has been nothing in need of unbelievable enjoying on two bum knees, however nonetheless scoring 36 factors in Game Four. Wembanyama dominated Games Two and Three, and will definitely be trying to bounce again from a regrettable second in Game Five. Whichever one can out-duel the opposite might go away San Antonio with a 3-2 benefit.
May twelfth, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT
Watch: NBC / Peacock | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Injuries: De’Aaron Fox – Questionable (ankle)
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Timberwolves Injuries: Donte DiVincenzo – Out (achilles)
What to observe for:
Physicality and foul calls
Despite what most individuals would say on-line, the winner of a basketball recreation shouldn’t be decided by the referees. That stated, they are going to have an important position to play in Game Five. Both sides will come after one another bodily, and each will complain after they don’t get the foul calls they assume they deserve. Wembanyama’s elbow has escalated the stakes of the bodily play on this collection. Both groups have been imposing their will on the opposite. Whether or not it’s the Spurs’ aggressive point-of-attack protection and hard drives to the rim, or the Wolves’ swarming assist protection and dominance on the offensive glass. Whatever workforce can play bodily sufficient with out entering into foul hassle may have a definite benefit.
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Securing the boards
In Game Four, the Spurs allowed the Wolves to seize 15 offensive rebounds for the second recreation in a row. Granted, they didn’t have their finest rebounder in Wembanyama for three-quarters of the sport. Lots of the rebounds they’re giving up can be out of Wembanyama’s management anyway. Minnesota is grabbing lengthy rebounds off misses or scooping up 50/50 balls whereas the Spurs are busy blocking out greater rebounders like Rudy Gobert. San Antonio has to negate the Wolves’ benefit on the glass to reclaim a lead on this collection.
Three-point capturing
San Antonio has struggled to shoot from three in each of their losses this collection. In Game One, they shot 28% from deep, and so they hit simply 23% of their deep pictures in Game Four. Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie need to knock down each wide-open three-pointer they’ve. If not, they’re handing over free possessions to Minnesota. De’Aaron Fox’s capturing has gone chilly for many of the collection. His offense is of the utmost significance heading into the ultimate video games of the collection. Fox is questionable for Game Five after sustaining an ankle damage in Game Four. The Spurs will want him and the remainder of their shooters to heat as much as take down the Wolves at dwelling.