Wembanyama’s 39-Point Dominance Lifts Spurs Past Timberwolves for 2-1 Series Lead.

MINNEAPOLIS — Victor Wembanyama turned in a commanding postseason performance with 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 115-108 on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference second-round series. Wembanyama was efficient throughout, shooting 13-of-18 from the field and 10-of-12 at the free-throw line, while anchoring San Antonio’s defense with consistent rim protection that altered Minnesota’s interior attack all game. “It was like holding the ship together,” Wembanyama said. “We had a lead. We didn’t need to rush. We needed to be consistent.” De'Aaron Fox added 17 points for San Antonio, while rookie guard Stephon Castle contributed 13 points and 12 assists, finishing a team-best +17. Minnesota was led by 32 points and 14 rebounds from Anthony Edwards, who returned to form after a recent knee injury, and 18 points from Naz Reid. However, the Timberwolves struggled to finish at the rim against Wembanyama’s defensive presence and shot just 8-for-34 combined from Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle. Minnesota opened the game ice-cold, missing its first 12 shots before finally scoring nearly seven minutes in. Despite the slow start, the Timberwolves battled back behind Edwards, who scored 22 first-half points, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer to tie the game at halftime 51-51. The Spurs seized control in the third quarter, shooting 6-of-10 from three-point range to build momentum. Minnesota briefly cut the deficit to one late in the fourth after McDaniels drew

Wembanyama’s fifth foul, but Spurs coach Mitch Johnson quickly reinserted his star center.

“We weren’t going to leave anything in the chamber,” Johnson said. “We were going to play him, and if he fouled out, we deal with that.” Wembanyama responded immediately, finishing strong down the stretch and hitting a key three-pointer to extend the Spurs’ lead to six with just over three minutes remaining. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch credited Edwards’ effort but acknowledged missed opportunities. Minnesota hosts Game 4 on Sunday, with Game 5 set for San Antonio on Tuesday as the series continues to swing.