After a dominant victory in Game Five, the San Antonio Spurs will head to Minnesota with an opportunity to clinch a spot within the Western Conference Finals. In case you’re searching for much more drama than an elimination recreation, it is going to be the primary time Victor Wembanyama has performed within the Target Center since he was ejected from Game Four of the sequence.
The Spurs discovered success in Minneapolis the final time they’d a must-win recreation coming off a blowout at dwelling. San Antonio gained Game Three in Minnesota 115-108, due to some clutch scoring by Wembanyama down the stretch. This recreation will doubtless elicit a extra determined effort from the Wolves, who’re identified for combating again when their backs are in opposition to 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.
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The Silver and Black will trot into Minnesota with a clear harm report. They’ll want all palms on deck to shut this sequence out on the highway. With the Oklahoma City Thunder getting loads of relaxation, and the unpredictability of a Game Seven, San Antonio could have a little bit of desperation themselves to win this sequence in six.
May fifteenth, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT
Watch: Amazon Prime Video | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Injuries: No accidents
Timberwolves Injuries: Donte DiVincenzo – Out (achilles)
What to look at for:
Getting to the basket
The Spurs outscored the Wolves within the paint 68-36 in Game Five. They relentlessly attacked the paint, particularly in transition, to place Minnesota away within the second half. Getting to the rim and scoring by way of contact must be a focus for his or her offense in Game Six, particularly if the Wolves are interested by going smaller with Rudy Gobert sitting on the bench. Gobert has been nice defensively on this sequence, however has struggled offensively in the previous couple of 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. Without Gobert’s rim safety, San Antonio has been capable of capitalize on the rim. They’ll want extra of that to shut out this sequence on the highway.
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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 one in all these gamers turns it on in Game Six, the Spurs’ technique of doubling Edwards may disintegrate, and we may even see a brand new defensive scheme from Mitch Johnson and Sean Sweeney.
Role 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 latest 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 photographs on Friday. The Silver and Black’s guards have executed an awesome job of penetrating and drawing a number of defenders. Their shooters have to make the protection pay for collapsing onto drivers.
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While not a task participant, De’Aaron Fox’s taking pictures stroke might be necessary right here, too. Elimination video games on the highway are precisely the place veterans have to step up and take the reins. Fox is just 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 may very well be simply what the Spurs have to advance to the Western Conference Finals.