After an ejection in Game 4, Victor Wembanyama responded with a dominant performance in Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The San Antonio Spurs secured a crucial victory, bringing them one step closer to the Conference Finals.
Following a controversial ejection in Game 4, where Wembanyama was disqualified for the first time in his NBA career, leading to a Timberwolves comeback, the young star made a resounding statement in Game 5. The Spurs avoided the potential nightmare scenario of losing their star player to suspension and he was able to play in the pivotal fifth game, delivering an exceptional performance.
San Antonio Spurs (W2) — Minnesota Timberwolves (W6) 126:97 — Series: 3-2
The French sensation tallied an impressive 18 points (6/8 FG, 2/3 3FG, 4/5 FT) and 6 rebounds within the first 8 minutes and 40 seconds of the game. Wembanyama emphasized the importance of their strong start, stating, «It’s super important for us how we start the game, as that sets the tone for the rest of the game. Now the challenge is to sustain that for 48 minutes.»
Despite the decisive victory, maintaining that consistent intensity throughout the game proved challenging at times. The Spurs led by 34:30 after the first quarter and extended their lead to 59:47 by halftime, even building an 18-point advantage earlier in the first half. However, the Timberwolves showed remarkable resilience in the second half, launching an impressive 14:2 run to tie the game in the third quarter.
Spurs guard Stephon Castle recognized the team’s ability to respond to adversity: «They will always go on their runs. We just can’t hang our heads when that happens and we just have to start a new run ourselves.»
The young Spurs squad, under Head Coach Mitch Johnson, remained composed and re-established a significant 91:73 lead by the end of the third quarter. The Timberwolves were unable to mount another comeback, and with three minutes left on the clock, Chris Finch opted to pull all his starters.
Shoves and Shouting: Wembanyama Remains Unstoppable
Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 20 points (6/13 FG). Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels each added 17 points, while Ayo Dosunmu contributed 16. Naz Reid also scored in double digits off the bench with 12 points, but Rudy Gobert had another quiet offensive outing with only 4 points.
Minnesota struggled with their shooting throughout the game, making only 27% of their three-point attempts. Randle and Terrence Shannon Jr. combined for eight missed three-point attempts without a single make. The T-Wolves also shot below 40% from the field (38.6 FG%), and were largely outplayed in the paint by the Spurs (36:68).
A significant factor in the Spurs’ dominance was Wembanyama, who seemed to draw extra motivation from a shove by Reid and a verbal exchange with Dosunmu. In under 33 minutes, Wemby filled the stat sheet with an efficient 27 points (9/16 FG, 2/5 3FG, 7/9 FT), 17 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks.
This performance also placed him among the all-time NBA greats, becoming the third-youngest player in postseason history to record at least 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists, trailing only Magic Johnson and Luka Doncic.
Strong Support for Wemby: Spurs Need One More Win for Conference Finals
The «Alien» was not alone in his offensive contribution. Castle (17 PTS, 6 AST) and De’Aaron Fox (18 PTS, 5 AST) provided crucial support from the backcourt. Devin Vassell (12 PTS, 2/7 3FG) and Julian Champagnie (12 PTS, 2/8 3FG) had quieter offensive nights. While the Spurs’ three-point shooting wasn’t consistently on point (34.4 3FG%), their overall field goal percentage was strong at 52.8 percent.
Keldon Johnson also played a significant role, with the Sixth Man of the Year candidate delivering his best playoff performance with 21 points on an efficient 8-of-11 shooting from the field. Rookie Dylan Harper also made an impact as a reserve, recording a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Defensively, the Spurs held their opponent under 100 points for the fifth time in ten playoff games.
San Antonio can clinch their spot in the Conference Finals with a victory in Minnesota on Saturday night (03:30 AM). The winner of this series will advance to face the Oklahoma City Thunder for a chance to reach the NBA Finals. OKC had previously swept the Lakers 4-0.
NBA Playoffs 2026: Second Round Standings and Results
| Conference | Matchup | Stand |
|---|---|---|
| Western | Thunder (1) — Lakers (4) | 4-0 |
| Western | Spurs (2) — Timberwolves (6) | 3-2 |
| Eastern | Pistons (1) — Cavaliers (4) | 2-2 |
| Eastern | Knicks (3) — Sixers (7) | 4-0 |