Coming off a blowout win in Game 2, the San Antonio Spurs traveled to the Target Center to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves for Game 3. The Spurs started the game with lockdown defense, limiting the Wolves to just one point in the first six minutes. After going up by 15, the Wolves, led by Anthony Edwards, managed to cut the deficit to one with a buzzer-beating three. The second quarter was a back-and-forth affair, ending with another buzzer-beating three, this time from Jaden McDaniels. With the score
deadlocked at 51 apiece, the Spurs made it a point to keep the tempo high at all times. Despite multiple small scoring runs, the Wolves always seemed to counter. Until the end of the quarter, when the Spurs managed to hold a seven-point lead heading into the fourth. Anytime the Spurs made attempts to put the game out of reach, the Wolves would again come crawling back. With six minutes remaining, it was back to a one-possession game. Clutch shots from Victor Wembanyama, Julian Champagnie, and Dylan kept the Spurs afloat, but Minny would once again counter with clutch buckets of their own. With just over three minutes remaining, it was once again a one-possession game. However, Wembanyama drained a deep clutch three to put the Spurs back up by six. From that point on, it never became a one-possession game again. The Spurs ultimately won 115-108 to take a 2-1 series lead.
Victor Wembanyama dropped a near 40-point double-double: 39 points (13-18 FG, 3-5 3PT), 10-12 FT) and 15 rebounds to go along with five blocks, an assist, and a steal. Wemby was a man on a mission. He shot 72% from the field, 60% from three, and 83% from the free throw line. 16 of his 39 points came in the fourth quarter. He carried the Spurs on both defense and offense, especially when it became stagnant. Whether it was lob finishes, deep threes, or turnaround midrange jumpers, he showed off his entire arsenal. As stated earlier, he joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O’Neal as the fourth player in NBA history to record 35+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 5+ blocks in a postseason game. Oh, and he is only 22.
Lob City in Minny! Wemby throws down back-to-back lobs to start the game!
TWO-WAY PLAYER! Wemby rejects Julius Randle on one end, and finishes through contact on the other end for the and-one!
Off the glass! Wemby drives past Rudy Gobert and finishes off the glass for two!
EVEN WHEN YOU FOUL HIM, IT DOES NOT MATTER! Wemby, with his arm held by Gobert, blocks Edwards’ shot! After the play, Edwards even grabbed his jersey!
CLEANUP ON AISLE 1! Wemby cleans up the miss with a rebound and a tip-in!
PASSING VISION! Wemby finds an open Harper under the basket for his only assist of the game!
CLUTCH W3MBY! After the screen from Stephon Castle, Wemby drains a deep three to give the Spurs a six-point lead with three minutes remaining.
De’Aaron Fox dropped 17 points, five assists, three rebounds, and a steal. After an efficient Game 2, Fox took it upon himself to give the Spurs an extra scoring boost. He accomplished this by attempting 19 shots, with seven of them going in. Although it was not an efficient game, Fox’s shots inspired others to keep firing and to not to get complacent. He also dished out his share of dimes and played decent perimeter defense. To keep the pace up for Game 4, Fox will look to approach with the same aggression.
Too quick! Fox drives past McDaniels and finishes off the glass for a deuce!
AND-ONE! Fox drives to the rim and finishes through contact with a wild layup!
Devin Vassell dropped 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. The x-factor is back again with another solid performance. Dev hit timely shots and was active on defense. He seems to always be in the right spots on both offensive and defensive rotations. His ultimate highlight of the game was posterizing Gobert!
Here’s another angle!
Stephon Castle dropped a double-double: 13 points and 12 assists to go along with four rebounds. Although Steph had a rough shooting night, he got to the line and dished out double-digit dimes. Most of his highlights are literally from diming up several different Spurs. Most of his dimes came from getting trapped inside the paint. He was finding open shooters like it was target practice. Steph has been guarded tightly by multiple Wolves defenders, especially McDaniels. Regardless, the 21-year-old continues to stand his ground and fight through contact.
DIMER BRONZE. Steph gets into the paint and finds an open Keldon Johnson for the trey! KJ finished with 11 points, two rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
DIMER SILVER! Steph gets double-teamed under the basket and finds a wide-open Carter Bryant for the corner three!
ST3PH! After Dev picks Ayo Dosunmu’s pocket, Julian finds Steph on the fast break for the wide-open three!
DIMER GOLD! Steph returns the favor by finding a wide-open Julian for the corner three! Julian finished with six points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
This was such a gutsy win on the road. This was the Spurs’ first win in Minnesota since 2022. Besides the supporting cast stepping up in their roles, Wemby showed up and showed out. He dropped his most dominant (on the offensive end) performance since Game 1 against the Portland Trail Blazers. He showed the world why he was an MVP candidate. Now, the silver and black look to Sunday to keep the pressure on Minny to hopefully take a commanding 3-1 lead.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
Game 4 is this Sunday at 6:30 P.M. (CST) on NBC/Peacock.
