05/09/26 02:31:00
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05/09 00:31 CDT Wembanyama gives the Spurs another gem in a 115-108 win over
the T-wolves to take a 2-1 series lead
Wembanyama gives the Spurs another gem in a 115-108 win over the T-wolves to
take a 2-1 series lead
By DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Sports Writer
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) --- Victor Wembanyama delivered another masterpiece with 39
points, 15 rebounds and more game-wrecking defense for the San Antonio Spurs,
who took a 2-1 lead in the second-round NBA playoff series with a 115-108
victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
Wembanyama went 13 of 18 from the floor and 10 of 12 from the line, adding five
blocks and a full night of paint deterrence as the Spurs won their second
straight game after dropping the opener at home.
"It was like holding the ship together. We had a lead. We didn't need to rush.
We needed to be consistent," Wembanyama said.
De'Aaron Fox scored 17 points, and Stephon Castle had 13 points and 12 assists
with a team-high plus-17 rating.
Anthony Edwards had 32 points and 14 rebounds and Naz Reid added 18 points and
nine rebounds for the Wolves, whose defense kept them alive after a woeful
start but allowed the Spurs to shoot 6 for 10 from 3-point range in the pivotal
third quarter.
Minnesota will host Game 4 on Sunday night. The series shifts back to San
Antonio for Game 5 on Tuesday.
Jaden McDaniels drew Wembanyama's fifth foul with 6:18 left and brought the
Wolves within 99-98 on pair of free throws, but the Spurs never trailed in the
second half despite never leading by double digits. Wembanyama sat for about a
minute before coach Mitch Johnson sent him back in.
"We were going to not leave any bullets in the chamber in terms of keeping him
on the bench," Johnson said. "We were going to play him, and then if he fouled
out, we deal with that."
Wembanyama didn't flinch despite the foul risk, finishing with 16 points in the
fourth quarter. His 3-pointer that answered Reid's pushed San Antonio's lead to
six with 3:06 to go. Reid tried another one near the end of the shot clock on
the next possession that hit the rim and Wembanyama snagged for another rebound.
Edwards, who showed Minnesota yet again his swift healing ability by returning
from a deep bone bruise in his hyperextended left knee after just one week to
make the start of the series, had 22 points in the first half to help them snap
back from an early 18-3 deficit.
"He needed that. We needed that," coach Chris Finch said. "He's battling back
to find a game like this, and it couldn't have come at a better time.
Unfortunately, we couldn't get the result that went along with it."
The Wolves missed their first 12 shots and didn't get a basket to go down until
Rudy Gobert's putback with 6:52 had elapsed, but unlike in the 133-95 drubbing
they took in Game 2 on Wednesday they had the defensive intelligence and
tenacity at the ready to make up for the long shooting lulls.
Edwards hit a buzzer-beating 31-footer at the end of the first quarter, and
McDaniels swished a 3-pointer from the wing to end the first half with a 51-all
tie.
McDaniels and Julius Randle were the most affected by Wembanyama's presence,
unable to get their short-range and rim-attacking game going. They shot a
combined 8 for 34 from the floor.
"I went in the locker room and told the guys we had a bunch of great looks,"
Edwards said. "If we make our shots, we win this game."
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