The San Antonio Spurs Eliminate the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2 in Convincing Fashion, 139-109.
ESPN Box Score
Yahoo Box Score
NBA.com Box Score
Stephon Castle drops 32/11/6
De’Aaron Fox adds 21/4/9
Losing three games by 30+ is brutal
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I think that could’ve fucked with them, it was so easy for them to score on Denver, every drive was automatic. Then Wemby comes with his big ass and contests everything
“They are all good defenders” -Jaden McDaniels, probably
He wouldn’t be wrong.
Yeah our worst defender in the playoff rotation is Fox and he’s actually working his ass off and is not being targeted heavily because his hands and switches are so quick.
I bet it was fatigue.
Team had to go ALL OUT to beat Denver with their injuries, and the jumpers just got worse and worse as the series wore on (aside from Naz who was getting healthier as the series wore on).
fatigue contributed but 90% of the reason here is the difference between Jokic and Wemby in the paint
I mean, at the rim, yes. But on jumpers? A lot of decent looks were short or off.
The spurs wing defenders are really good. Idk.
I don’t really think that’s what happened though. The Spurs scored 126, 139, and 133 points in their blowouts. The wolves scored a similar amount of points in their losses this series as in their wins in the denver series. They just genuinely had no answer for the Spurs guards or their bench.
Not to say their offense didn’t suck but their defense deserves at least equal ridicule.
Spurs play much faster than denver and wolves never adjusted for that spurs were constantly getting 3 on 2 possesions or better, that plus wemby’s defense of course.
I’m gonna get hate from Wolves fans but I think a lot of their defense was just trying to play physical WHEN they get near their assignments. But that transition defense and through mid-court was weak, with mostly hacks and pushing from behind the back to try and slow people down as opposed to proper lockdown and footwork.
Transition defense was the key problem in both series. It’s hard not to see that as a coaching problem. Life time wolves fan so I feel comfortable watching off ball and they often look at the ball as if deciding to rebound or run back. It’s gotta be one or the other and really, RUN BACK.
That game 3 L was brutal, although you’d probably get rolled by 30 in game 7 anyways and then have blown a 3-1 lead, so it was for the better.
Probably true.
The games that weren’t blowouts were close though. My Spurs still I think really need a real power forward to become a future dynasty, and I really feel the Wolves are also like one player addition to become great.
Well, that addition but also a couple of trades maybe, dump Randle for virtually anybody else for instance.
But this team with a healthy DiVenxenzo makes this a 7 game series, one or two better role players maybe another Conference Finals for the Wolves
it’s not fair since DDV is out, but this is the first series where the Kat/randle trade looks really problematic for minnesota. kat at the 5 would’ve been interesting
What Randle and Rudy do to a mf.
Three straight seasons ending via blowout.
We ride until the wheels fall off. And they tend to really fly off.
You guys got out-rebounded by 30 this game. Just unreal
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They really might just win it all and we’ll look back on this series as obviously they won
Kudos to these guys, but Wemby is single handedly changing the game on both ends, he doesn’t get enough credit because they’re outperforming like crazy, their talent level isn’t really there yet
He saves them a lot of energy on the defensive end. They hustle but having Wemby behind you means you can relax a little and put that energy to the offense.
On defense they can overplay on guards knowing it’s not an issue to get beat, like the Lakers used to with prime AD, but on steroids
On offense the spurs often have practice 3s sessions with Wemby in the paint (and it’s so annoying when they’re bricking themlol) or free points if the other team is distracted for a second, even without him scoring or blocking his pressence is game changing on both ends.
Yea when Wemby sits you can see how the game immediately changes. Wemby doesn’t get enough credit because so much of his impact is literally “aura”. People see Wemby flailing and falling (which is what he’s trained to do to protect his joints) or bricking 3’s and say he’s bad offensively but they miss how much space he creates for his team.
Yeah the casual fan is pretty clueless about impact without the ball, for most if you didn’t average 27+ you’re not elite on that end lol
Wemby was the best player in the series on both ends
Fwiw I am a casual observer but even I see immediately how the opposition changes their play style and aggression when Wemby is off the court. His defense up close is a huge impact.
Yeah it’s crazy that Wemby is so good and people are still only just now catching on to his full impact, he impacts the game in a way that his team basically starts each game with a 12-0 lead
At one point they had a line up of
On the floor, Vassell at 25 is the oldest.
I remember when Vassel was the Spurs main prospect, now he’s probably like your fifth best player. Insane
Pretty sure Vassell beats Castle and Harper in 1v1s at practice based off an interview they had earlier this year
It’s like when Lu was our 2nd or 3rd best.
The young core of Shai, dort and bazley
I remember when OKC drafting two Jalen/Jaylen Williams was just funny and a bit unserious
You just witnessed a Mason Plumlee reverse dunk in 2026
The TWolves just got reverse plumdogged
Sounds like a banned subreddit
r/reverseplumdogged
What’s plumdog?
Not much, what’s plum with you?
Dude just throwing himself the ball to be sure no one misses.
both Mason Plumlee and Biyombo outscored Gobert lmao
Plumdog Zillionaire stays shining. Blazers legend
Wow, you just reminded me, he did this for us earlier in the season and we were all like, whoa I didn’t know he had it in him
I think he did it twice in one game and it became a meme
It was so cool
The series summed into commentaries:
“Gobert near the rim. Couldn’t finish.”
bro got outscored by Bismack Biyombo and Mason Plumlee.
He also got outrebounded by f*cking Kelly Olynyk
and people ask why Gobert’s teammates don’t pass to him more
his FG% dropped 19% from regular season to playoffs
I want to take a moment to thank Mike Conley for everything.
38 year old Mike Conley outplayed Julius “2nd option” Randle in this series.
Ridiculous how much hate he received this season.
He went out as one of the best Wolves players in the playoffs and people are still shitting on him.
Hope he can stick around for one more year.
Love Conley, but he was putting historically bad numbers up pre trade
An ancient man had a rough stretch. Wow.
People were acting like it was a fire able offense to play him, when these playoffs have proven that we needed to as one of the very few people on this roster who has any situational awareness whatsoever.
When he forced that TO and then hit a 3 at the other end
He played shockingly well, makes me sad he can’t get a ring this year
I just don’t know how you could win games when your starting center gets outscored by Bismack Biyombo.
starting front court combined for 3?!? points.
That was one of the talking points heading into the series too. That we had no matchup for Randle.
Turns out the best defense for Randle was Randle
Man you just beat me to that comment
We had Devin Vassell guarding this man lmao
On 12.5/0/50 0/0/0 splits. I’m sick
Dubious Handle and Fraud-Bert back on the menu boys
Should’ve gone “Faux-Bert”
0 points and 3 rebounds in an elimination game. egregious behavior
Luke Kornet had 6 rebounds and 4 blocks in half of Gobert’s playing time.
And Mason Plumlee.
Plummdog Millionaire**
Plumlee scored more than Gobert incredible
Kelly Olynyk had as many points as Randle and Rudy
when your starting center gets outscored by Bismack Biyombo.
Gobert gets a pass for atleast doing something this playoff run Dubious Handle on the other hand
Gobert really is Baguette Biyombo
For as good as he is defensively Gobert is not good enough offensively to justify how much salary he takes up.
Every time he touches the ball in offense it’s like he’s never held a basketball before
I wanna shout out some San Antonio role players that are so instrumental to their wins
Carter Bryant is so much fun to watch, because he’s so obviously not a great player yet, but he gives his 110% (sometimes to his detriment lol). He plays so hard on defense, and has so much energy, I love it!
I understand that once Wemby is off the court, everyone attacks and tries to score in the paint, but its ridiculous that the Spurs have Kornet to backup Wemby LOL. He’s actually so good against the Wolves because Randle and Gobert still kinda struggle scoring against him.
Champagnie is the most Danny Green I’ve seen a role player in a while. When he’s hot he’s so hot, but on nights where he’s colder, he’s not afraid to let it fly. Maybe not as good as a PoA defender as Green but he defends in space and recover’s so well to enable their guard heavy lineups.
Devin Vassell might be my favorite Spur, he’s so tenacious and plays so hard when he’s on the court. A true 3-level scorer that also doesn’t get beat on defense is so valuable especially in the Playoffs.
Luke Kornet is exactly the type of player you want as the backup. When you put him in, you know that he isn’t going to make any stupid mistakes and hes going to do every fundamental right.
He’s a starting center on most other teams and it’s a luxury to have him as a backup
Champagnie
This dude does not get talked about enough. Automatic from 3.
Fuck the 3s his timely rebounding was what shocked me
The rebounding is the secret value
Board man gets paid
-- Julian Champagnie probably
Heated up at the end.
Said it before but with the Spurs’ defense & the rim pressure they get with Fox/Harper/Castle plus Wemby, their baseline level is so high that if they get a good shooting performance on decent volume from either Vassell or Champagnie, it’s usually game set match.
He had a poor shooting series until tonight
All of the spurs guards could hit an open three consistently.
The only Wolves player (aside from ant) who could tore his achilles. That’s the series, imo.
Champagne and Castle were incredible.
Appreciate you, everyone hyperfixates on Wemby, but the Spurs don’t make the WCF without the contributions from so, so many other guys.
It’s just a well constructed team. Granted, Wemby was a generational get, but even when the Spurs are bad there’s generally a medium term plan. Compare to a team like the Jazz which is more of a concept of a plan.
Wemby just solves so many problems by existing. Your guards can play so high up because if our guys get around their job is still so fucking hard.
Kornet was excellent in his minutes. Wemby is so dominant that if the opps don’t completely dominate the Kornet minutes, it’s gonna be hard to beat the Spurs.
The real ones know Vassell is absolutely vital to everything the spurs have done so far.
The value of Vassell being one of like 3 guys to be willing to shoot it from anywhere over anyone goes so underrated. Every team needs someone who can go out and sink a tough bucket
Now we just need him to learn how to make the easy ones and we’ll be unstoppable.
I genuinely can’t express how thrilled I am that Vassell has been such a vital part of this run. He was the guy I was hoping the Spurs would draft that year and I never stopped believing in him.
Vassell and Keldon are the guys I’m happiest for in this run. Keldon in particular. Heart and soul of this team and an all time locker room vibes guy.
So glad he got 6MOY too.
Carter Bryant is going to be good, needs a little bit more development from the Spurs but I think he’s going to be very big for them in the years to come
Kornet has been a godsend for us. Our backup bigs the last 2 years were atrocious and he’s been perfect for us to hold the fort while wemby rests.
The Spurs now carry the hope and dreams of all non-Thunder fans to save basketball from the Thunder.
Lol the Spurs will be dominating the next 10 years. You’re rooting for them because they have t won their first championship yet. Yes, I said yet.
I’d rather they win the next 10 than okc win even 1 more. Yes, I am a hater.
Welcome to the bandwagon brother. Plenty of room in here for the next few weeks.
Hell, I’d rather the 2017 Warriors teleport to 2026 and win the next 10 championships than see OKC win another
What a coincidence; me too!
And in a year or two you’ll be cursing how dominant the Spurs are and wishing anyone to take them out in the west so Knicks have a chance in the finals.
Randle my expectations for you in the playoffs were low, but this is straight up embarassing…
PS: The “JR” nickname belongs to JR Smith NOT Julius Randle fwiw
His nickname was and forever will be Dubious Handle
dubbed by our own Walt Clyde Frazier
I have never seen someone call Randle JR
WCF gonna hit like crack.
That’s gonna be the biggest heavy weight slugfest since what Cavs - Warriors?
In the west i’m thinking gsw-okc 2016
Surely Warriors-Rockets in 2018 was an equally heavyweight bout
This is the one.
Ant won’t say it, but I bet he is yearning to be moved to the East to avoid the OKC/Spurs/Luka fuckery.
We aren’t worried about Luka anymore
Ain’t no shot Luka getting past the Spurs or Thunder anytime soon with his current cast. lol
I mean true, but neither are yall
Bro had to sneak Luka in.
Luka?
As good as anyone in the West, it’s just that he’s stuck on the Lakers
Nico saved the Wolves from ever having to worry about Luka fuckery ever again.
Nobody worried about Luka
Tried to sneak his ass in there
I guarantee you ant isn’t worried about Luka
shout to mitch man I know a lot of spurs fans had a lots of doubt about him. but for mitch to win 60 plus games and get to the wcf finals in his first proper full year as spurs head coach is one hell of achievement
One of the most underrated aspects is how confident the young squad played in the Wemby-less games, they win game 3 vs Portland and in game 4 of this series they weren’t rattled at all by Wemby ejection.
Not just games, even when Vic sits the team can protect and extend leads.
Now if we can just not let teams get back into games after building 20+ point leads.
this game was not as close as the score would lead you to believe
Spurs could’ve put up 160 if they wanted to.
Minnesota caught fire for the last 7 minutes of the 2nd quarter and went +16. Without those minutes, yeah this would have been a Hawks-level stomping.
Oh good cuz I was worried about that
Exactly what both Adam Silver and NBA fans wanted all damn season: Thunder/Spurs WCF
I mean they both earned it.
Yeah I’d like to thank Silver for some excellent script writing so far
rematch of 2012 / 2014 / 2016 Playoffs, it should be cinema
As long as we FINALLY win it all, I don’t care how it all turns out
I hope it goes 7 😤
Do you hate me?
Somewhat yes
Fair
Neutral fans eating good. World will celebrate when the Al-Shaida falls
We are hyped
Sonics fans are gonna be the biggest Spurs fans this coming week lol
You bet your ass. I’ve been on the bandwagon after watching them go up 2-0 early season.
And just like that, we all become Spurs fans
Help us Wemby, you’re our only hope.
I’m gonna grumble about it but yeah
Wolves fought hard all series but the talent gap finally overwhelmed them.
Time for us to go square dancing, OKC.😘
I’m ready for those toxic game threads
You get a flop!
And you get a flop!
Everyone gets a flop!
The battle of the band wagons is gonna lead to some utterly unhinged shit getting said.
Nah what are you talking about, we are all civilized people here /s
Wolves should be thrilled they got 2 games. If the Spurs were less young and inexperienced this is a sweep.
It’s a sweep if wemby/ fox don’t forget how to shoot in game 1 and of Wemby doesn’t turn into Jon Jones in game 4. A lot of ifs but still true.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone use less young and inexperienced together.
You’re clearly not the president.
Spurs-Thunder series will definitely be lit not gonna lie.
Happy for you neutral fans, but the stress levels are going to be on nightmare level.
Probably would’ve been closer if Randle played some basketball
I don’t think people really recognize just how much he brings everyone else down.
Hurts the offense by killing all ball movement.
Team defense is nonexistent because everyone else has to help him guard his man AND he doesn’t hustle for rebounds.
I’ve watched many horrendous Wolves players over the years, but Julius Randle is easily my least favorite.
now you know how a subset of us Knicks fans felt for years (that rooted for RJ over Randle)
GGs Wolves bros. Hope you figure things out and make the fullest of Ant’s prime because I love rooting for this dude. You bet I am praying you get moved to the East soon though.
Straight to WCF for their first playoffs run is such a huge accomplishment for this Spurs team. They are all dawgs. Whatever happens against OKC I am not taking this promising young core for granted.
Good games 🤝
gg, so proud of your squad, they’re gonna be great for so many years
Super clutch 14-7 run by the Wolves to only lose by 30
Rudy Gobert was outscored by Lindy Waters, Bismack Biyombo, and Kelly Olynyk in this game.
And Plumlee
His lack of an offensive bag is pretty crushing. His defense is fully capable of swinging a series the right way but he’s turning 34 soon and really does have to be spoon-fed offensively against good teams and that just doesn’t fly in the playoffs.
Yeah it was pretty much agreed upon between players and fans 6th seed was the goal. 2nd seed, 60 wins, conference finals is way more than anticipated..
Save us LeBron.
Lebron and Giannis to Minnesota confirmed
And Minnesota goes east so LeBron can make finals again
Minnesota sports fans had a brutal week.
*life
I’m a December of ‘91 baby. We haven’t even made a championship game/round in the five major men’s sports in my lifetime.
What’s insane is how bad SAS and OKC make other teams look.
There’s hardly any margin for error. Any weakness on the floor or flaw in roster construction is exposed.
I hope Julius is embarrassed. Dude was straight ass this series and finished it up with 3 points in an elimination game.
GGs Spurs.
Go fuck up the Thunder now.
Ggs!
That’s a tough one to take care of though.
Funny enough this is the first time in Timberwolves franchise history they’ve been eliminated in the 2nd round of the playoffs
Wolves fans looking on like Matthew Mcconaughey stuck in the 5th dimension in Interstellar every time Randle checks in at the scorer’s table
why doesnt every other team also draft an 83 ft tall basketball demigod? are we all just stupid?
Hey now, there’s also this absolute beast from UConn
My god the next decade is just gonna be okc and spurs winning the finals. Can’t believe the spurs got gifted Wemby castle and harper b2b2b
#WE BACK
NOW THE NBA FINALS WILL BEGIN NEXT WEEK. 👀
Julius Randle off my team thank you lord
No amount of howling was going to stop that moving castle.
I’m just bummed we didn’t get another Harper reaction gif this game. Kinda a let down…
West finals will be great, but the game threads so toxic. Can’t wait.
Cant wait for the game threads toxicity of Spurs OKC.
Heavyweight fight in the West.
Pillow fight in the East.
I have been following Wemby since he was with Nanterre 92, and even I did not think he would be making the WCF in Year 3.
And because Spurs are facing the OKC juggernaut, currently 8-0 in these playoffs, everything from here on out is gravy for San Antonio IMO.
please save the nba, wemby
Dont crown the Spurs anything yet, they havent experienced the playoff physicality. Their game wont translate.