The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-96 on Tuesday with 27 points and 17 rebounds from Victor Wembanyama to regain the lead (3-2) in one of the NBA West semifinals.
The French center started the game with 16 points in the first six minutes and already had a double-double by halftime. Wembanyama made up for his ejection in the last game played in Minneapolis, after an elbow to Naz Reid in the second quarter that cost the Spurs the victory.
Wembanyama puts pressure
The semifinal now returns to Minnesota for Game 6, which will be played this Friday.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder are already waiting for their opponent in the West final, who will be the winner of this series.
“We won, that’s the important thing, but we still have one more game to go to reach the conference finals.”
“We had ups and downs in the second half, but we finished well,” Victor Wembanyama said in courtside remarks after the Spurs’ win.
Spurs claim fifth
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The Timberwolves only led on the scoreboard for nine seconds Tuesday in San Antonio.
At 3-5 in the early stages of the match, Wembanyama was in charge of neutralizing.
The Frenchman came out unleashed, determined to make amends for the mistake he made in Minnesota.
Where he fell into the Timberwolves trap with inexcusable aggression.
Gale Victor Wembanyama gave the Spurs their first big lead of the night with 15 points.
But the Timberwolves fought their way back into the game.
With a 4-17 run in four minutes, the Wolves got back to within two points (28-26).
In the second quarter, the Spurs extended their lead to +18.
Although at halftime the Timberwolves left it at 69-57, after finishing the half with a good feeling.
Enters historic mode and crushes Minnesota in playoffs
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The good sensations were confirmed after the break, when they tied the game at the start of the second half with a 2-14 run.
A basket by Ayo Dosunmu made the score 61-61.
Far from sinking any further, a three-pointer by Julian Champagnie bailed the Spurs out.
The Texans closed the quarter on a 30-12 run, again up +18.
The Timberwolves made one last comeback attempt in the fourth quarter.
But they fell short and the Spurs’ lead reached +30 in the final moments of the duel.
Victor Wembanyama is the third youngest player to finish a playoff game with more than 25 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists.
After Magic Johnson and Luka Doncic.
The semifinal now returns to Minnesota
QuéOnnda.com
Spurs crush Minnesota despite Edwards’ effort
Keldon Johnson -best sixth man of the season- added 21 points for San Antonio.
De’Aaron Fox contributed 18, Stephon Castle 17 and Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell 12 apiece.
For Minnesota, the best was Anthony Edwards with 20 points.
Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle each added 17 and Ayo Dosunmu chipped in with 16.
Rudy Gobert, who was vindicated against Nikola Jokic in the first round, was held to four points.
With information from EFE
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