That will need to have been a productive film session for the San Antonio Spurs.
After (*1*), the Spurs responded by steamrolling the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 133-95 win. Their Western Conference semifinals sequence is now tied 1-1.
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Game 3 is scheduled for Friday (9:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video) because the sequence strikes to Minnesota.
The greatest that may be stated for the Timberwolves is that they nonetheless weren’t fairly 100%, or no less than as shut as they’ll get to 100% in a sequence the place Donte DiVincenzo is assured to be out. Anthony Edwards nonetheless got here off the bench after a surprise return in Game 1 and Ayo Dosunmu left the sport early with heel ache, after previously being considered questionable.
Beyond that, effectively, right here’s Wemby.
Anchored by the NBA’s first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, the Spurs held the Timberwolves to 5-of-21 capturing contained in the paint earlier than the beginning of the fourth quarter, by which era the sport was effectively out of hand at 98-63.
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At the perimeter? 5-of-21 on 3-pointers in the primary three quarters. They misplaced the turnover battle 19-12. The Spurs bought 10 extra free throws. The Timberwolves solely had three extra assists (13) than the Spurs had steals (10).
Wembanyama didn’t submit 12 blocks once more ((*2*)), but it surely was pure domination on protection for San Antonio.
The Spurs had far fewer points on offense as effectively, with all 5 starters scoring in double figures earlier than the fourth quarter. The recreation was really out of hand towards the tip of the second quarter, and the Spurs spent the third quarter pushing it additional out of attain.
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The second it bought really out of hand was a stretch when Julian Champagnie made 4 straight 3-pointers.
Both groups emptied their benches early in the fourth quarter.
Stephon Castle led all scorers with 21 factors on 6-of-10 capturing, whereas Dylan Harper had 11 factors, 7 rebounds and 5 assists off the bench.
Edwards had 24 minutes off the bench and may need had extra in a aggressive recreation, however contributed solely 12 factors on 5-of-13 capturing with 0 assists and 4 turnovers. That tied for the Minnesota scoring lead with Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Terrence Shannon Jr.
When you’ve got a 62-win crew in one quarter and one other crew scrambling to tape collectively a backcourt rotation, you’re in all probability going to get outcomes like Wednesday’s in some video games. The Timberwolves can no less than board the aircraft understanding {that a} two-point win and a 38-point win depend the identical in the sequence rating (they nonetheless have homecourt benefit!), however the scene in Game 2 was a reminder of the duty that lies in entrance of them.